Inscrutable
Word of the Day
What is Inscrutable?
adjective
Impossible to understand or interpret.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen to celebrate the beauty and frustration of the unknown.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
The Mona Lisa’s inscrutable expression has fascinated viewers for centuries.
His motives remained inscrutable.
The code’s inscrutable design baffled analysts.
Word Origins
Latin inscrutabilis “not to be searched into”
From scrutari “to examine.”
First appearance in English: 15th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
-
Noun:
The inscrutability of her smile haunted him.
-
Adjective:
Her enigmatic tone concealed much.
-
Adjective:
The mysterious letter arrived suddenly.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: inescrutable
- French: inscrutable
- German: unergründlich
- Italian: inscrutabile
- Portuguese: inescrutável
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Enigmatic
Close synonym; inscrutable is more intellectual.
Opaque
Opaque can be literal or figurative; inscrutable is figurative.
Unfathomable
Suggests depth; inscrutable suggests secrecy.
Fun Facts
- The root “scrutari” also gives “scrutiny.”
- Used frequently in 19th-century novels to describe mysterious faces.
Cultural Usage
- The Mona Lisa’s smile is the most famous inscrutable image.
- Conrad’s characters often have inscrutable motives.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes confused with “indecipherable”; inscrutable suggests deliberate unknowability.
Micro Story
His inscrutable smile left them guessing.