1
as in esoteric
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand
grammatical rules that seem arcane to generations of students who were never taught grammar in the first place
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cryptic
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
the rebate form uses arcane language, the only purpose of which seems to be to disqualify buyers from actually getting a rebate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
my predecessor in this job obviously had his own arcane system for filing things, and so I haven't a clue as to where anything is
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arcane
In traditional dictatorships, critics are often charged with crimes such as sedition, treason, or plotting insurrection, but contemporary autocrats tend to prosecute critics for more mundane offenses, such as corruption, tax evasion, defamation, and even minor violations of arcane rules.
—
Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
Another facet of the debate over Reagan National is an arcane rule about how far its flights can travel.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025
But flawed forecasts and arcane language have cost them credibility.
—River Akira Davis, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
And if this becomes an arcane game of legal chess, both his critics and Fauci would have available moves.
—Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
Another facet of the debate over Reagan National is an arcane rule about how far its flights can travel.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025
But flawed forecasts and arcane language have cost them credibility.
—River Akira Davis, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
And if this becomes an arcane game of legal chess, both his critics and Fauci would have available moves.
—Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcane
Adjective
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But there are also more esoteric forums, such as r/rentnerzeigenaufdinge, the German-language subreddit that’s devoted to context-free photos of retirees pointing at random things.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
4 Mar. 2025
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Practiced in esoteric pursuits including Kabbala and Rosicrucianism, Court de Gébelin sought meaning in the cards’ strange symbolism.—
Jonathon Keats,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Women possessed by the gods were oracles, predicting the future in cryptic utterances.—
Vipin Bharathan,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
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Escher String Quartet Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs The Escher String Quartet, named for the cryptic artist M.C. Escher, performs pieces by Ravel, Mendelssohn and Mozart on March 4 at 7:30 p.m. $39, $37 seniors, free for students and youth.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Scholars, out May 2 on Matador Records, features at least a dozen distinct characters, in settings that include a mysterious university and a clown school.—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
4 Mar. 2025
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There are dramatic headlines, nonsensical abbreviations and mysterious trends that seem to erase people’s money.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Her lyric vocal writing contends with harsh reality, but her style is never far from profound rapture.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
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In the face of profound global challenges—political polarization, environmental collapse, racial injustice, and widening economic inequality—these leaders have consistently delivered one unifying message: The future belongs to businesses that solve social problems, not contribute to them.—
Paul Klein,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The film has proven divisive, though, with some audiences puzzled by its breakneck tonal shifts and ambiguous ending.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
28 Feb. 2025
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Trump has not commented on the military base plan specifically but delivered an ambiguous answer this week to a question regarding the use of private companies to assist with deportations.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Founded on the ethos of art as a form of mystic healing, the label reimagines the family heirloom—and invites its patrons to examine their relationship with objects.—
Nia Shumake,
Essence,
3 Feb. 2025
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Healy Lake members have long considered their dogs to be mystic companions, according to Combs.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Everything feels absurd and animated by obscure cosmic forces.—
Willing Davidson,
The New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2025
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After years in obscure so-so movies playing Chopin and Byron, and in some respectable Merchant Ivory ones, the surprise star of last year's Four Weddings and a Funeral and this year's Nine Months and The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain has lately been having a bad life.—
Candace Bushnell,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Like a chameleon, the 5-foot-6 senior has the uncanny ability to adapt to any opponent, game situation or even time of year.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
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Daniels, who is 6'8 and enormously athletic, has already - at such a young age - found a way to bridge the two aspects, and combine them with his uncanny basketball IQ that takes into account timing, player tendencies, and anticipation.—
Morten Stig Jensen,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcane. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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