cryptic
Having a hidden meaning that is hard to work out.
cryptic in a sentence
- The treasure map ended with a cryptic message that took us all weekend to solve.
- The fortune teller gave a cryptic answer, and nobody could work out what she really meant.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to cryptic?
- Aclear
- Bobvious
- Cplain
- Dpuzzling
Show the answer
D: puzzling. The other three mean the opposite of cryptic.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to cryptic?
- Apuzzling
- Bclear
- Cmysterious
- Dhidden
Show the answer
B: clear. The other three mean nearly the same as cryptic.
Words that mean something similar
puzzling, mysterious, hidden
Words that mean the opposite
clear, plain, obvious
More words about thinking & learning
- decipher: To work out what something difficult or secret means.
- demonstrate: To show clearly how something works, or that it is true.
- determine: To decide something firmly, or to work it out for certain.
- dilemma: A tricky choice between two things, where neither seems right.
- distinguish: To see or show how two things are different.
- dubious: Not sure whether something is true or can be trusted.
- endeavour: To try very hard to do something.
- engrossed: So interested in something that you notice nothing else.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test