inscrutable

[ in-skroo-tuh-buhl ]
/ ɪnˈskru tə bəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR inscrutable ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

incapable of being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized; impenetrable.
not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable: an inscrutable smile.
incapable of being seen through physically; physically impenetrable: the inscrutable depths of the ocean.

Origin of inscrutable

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Late Latin word inscrūtābilis. See in-3, scrutable

synonym study for inscrutable

1. See mysterious.

OTHER WORDS FROM inscrutable

in·scru·ta·bil·i·ty, in·scru·ta·ble·ness, noun in·scru·ta·bly, adverb

Words nearby inscrutable

inscape, inscribe, inscription, inscriptive, inscroll, inscrutable, insculp, inseam, insect, insect wax, insecta

Words related to inscrutable

enigmatic, impenetrable, unintelligible, incomprehensible, unfathomable, ambiguous, arcane, cabalistic, deadpan, difficult, inexplicable, mystic, secret, unaccountable, unreadable, unexplainable, poker-faced, sphinxlike, unknowable

Example sentences from the Web for inscrutable

British Dictionary definitions for inscrutable

inscrutable
/ (ɪnˈskruːtəbəl) /

adjective

incomprehensible; mysterious or enigmatic

Derived forms of inscrutable

inscrutability or inscrutableness, noun inscrutably, adverb

Word Origin for inscrutable

C15: from Late Latin inscrūtābilis, from Latin in- 1 + scrūtārī to examine