Skip to main content
mysterial

mysterial

9.9
Strange and hard to understand, giving a feeling of mystery
  • adjective
  • /mɪˈstɪəriəl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : misterioso
  • The abandoned house had a mysterial atmosphere that made visitors uneasy.

Examples

  • There was something mysterial about the way the fog rolled over the hills at night.

  • She was drawn to the mysterial charm of the ancient ruins.

  • The mysterial fog enveloped the village at dawn.

  • Isn't that a mysterial painting?

  • The abandoned house had a mysterial atmosphere that made visitors uneasy.

  • There was something mysterial about the way the fog rolled over the hills at night.

  • She was drawn to the mysterial charm of the ancient ruins.

Synonyms

strange
vsmysterial
2.3

Unusual and slightly odd in a way you cannot easily understand

leans more toward deep puzzlement and an air of mystery
weird
vsmysterial
  • Informal
3.2

Strange or unusual in a way that makes people feel uncomfortable

is similar but adds a distinct sense of mysterious atmosphere
mysterious
vsmysterial
498 5.1

Hard to understand or explain because it seems strange

is the same idea but with a more general notion of strangeness
peculiar
vsmysterial
123 4.6

Different from what is normal and expected

is stranger by carrying stronger puzzlement and mysterious tone
inexplicable
vsmysterial
47 7.8

Hard to explain or understand

is mysterious yet also highlights oddness rather than pure inexplicability
puzzling
vsmysterial
42 4.6

Hard to understand or explain

adds an extra sense of strange atmosphere beyond mere confusion
enigmatic
vsmysterial
27 8.1

Hard to understand and often seems mysterious

is similarly mysterious but also highlights simple oddness
baffling
vsmysterial
27 6.4

Hard to understand and causing confusion

includes puzzlement but also a sense of strange atmosphere
unexplainable
vsmysterial
19 7.0

Something people cannot understand or find a clear reason for

suggests mystery too but allows more general puzzling or strangeness
inscrutable
vsmysterial
12 8.9

Hard to understand because it shows no clear meaning or feeling

is mysterious too but less extreme about being unfathomable
mystifying
vsmysterial
7 7.3

Causing someone to feel confused

also implies an odd, mysterious quality beyond simply confusing
enigmatical
vsmysterial
1 9.3

Hard to understand, like a puzzle

carries the same puzzling quality but sounds less formal
cryptical
vsmysterial
  • Archaic
9.9

Hard to understand because it has a hidden meaning

is mysterious too but more about overall oddness than secret meaning
sibylline
vsmysterial
  • Literature
9.9

Mysterious and hard to understand, like a prophecy

shares mystery but is less prophetic or poetic in use
orphic
vsmysterial
  • Literature
9.9

Mysterious and hard to understand, often about deep spiritual ideas

is mysterious in everyday sense rather than deeply esoteric

Antonyms

1.0

Easy to understand or do

1.0

Easy to see or understand

How Mysterious

enigmatic
27 8.1
mysterial
  • Archaic
9.9
mysterious
498 5.1
strange
2.3

Surface Forms

mysterial positive

Morphology

mysterial = mystery (semi-transparent) = mystery + al

The relation to 'mystery' is clear, but the meaning 'strange or puzzling' is a metaphorical extension rather than a fully predictable composition.

Etymology

Mysterial is related to mystery and comes from the old Greek mysterion, meaning 'secret'. A helpful way to remember it is that something mysterial feels like a secret or puzzle, so it seems strange or hard to understand.