mysterious

adjective

mys·​te·​ri·​ous mi-ˈstir-ē-əs How to pronounce mysterious (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or constituting mystery
the mysterious ways of God
b
: exciting wonder, curiosity, or surprise while baffling efforts to comprehend or identify : mystifying
heard a mysterious noise
a mysterious stranger
a mysterious plane crash
a mysterious illness
2
: stirred by or attracted to the inexplicable
… to help a mysterious wizard … ward off the end of the world with blood sacrifices.Robert Houston
mysteriousness noun

Examples of mysterious in a Sentence

the mysterious ways of nature We heard a mysterious noise outside our tent. He died under mysterious circumstances. A mysterious illness has been spreading through the city. There's something mysterious about that old woman. Her behavior was very mysterious.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The groundbreaking find, the researchers claim, could reshape our understanding of the universe and its most powerful and mysterious signals. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025 Several years later, Hoffa disappeared under mysterious circumstances and was never seen again. David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025 During last night's episode of Collison, AEW dropped a big hint that its mysterious and undefeated superstar Hologram will soon return. Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025 What makes the birth mysterious is that the tank is home to two female sharks who haven't been in contact with a male in over three years. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for mysterious 

Word History

Etymology

mystery entry 1 + -ous, probably after Middle French mysterieux

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of mysterious was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near mysterious

Cite this Entry

“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mysterious. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

mysterious

adjective
mys·​te·​ri·​ous mis-ˈtir-ē-əs How to pronounce mysterious (audio)
: containing, suggesting, or presenting a mystery
mysterious noises
also : difficult or impossible to understand
the mysterious ways of nature
mysteriously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on mysterious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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