mysterious
adjective
mys·te·ri·ous
mi-ˈstir-ē-əs 
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
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
Some people are already well aware of Norse Atlantic, despite the company’s somewhat mysterious profile.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Nathan Carman died by suicide in his jail cell in 2023 as the prime suspect in his mother’s mysterious 2016 drowning death at sea — and in the 2013 shooting death of his wealthy grandfather.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 20 Apr. 2025
She's just been visited by a mysterious mate named Donnie, who claims to be a friend of Harry's.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 20 Apr. 2025
In the musical, Williams plays Viola Van Horn, based on the mysterious character immortalized in the movie by Isabella Rossellini, whose voice can be heard before curtain each night telling theater patrons to turn off their phones.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
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Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Nathan Carman died by suicide in his jail cell in 2023 as the prime suspect in his mother’s mysterious 2016 drowning death at sea — and in the 2013 shooting death of his wealthy grandfather.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 20 Apr. 2025
She's just been visited by a mysterious mate named Donnie, who claims to be a friend of Harry's.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 20 Apr. 2025
In the musical, Williams plays Viola Van Horn, based on the mysterious character immortalized in the movie by Isabella Rossellini, whose voice can be heard before curtain each night telling theater patrons to turn off their phones.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Cite this Entry
“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mysterious. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mysterious
adjective
mys·te·ri·ous
mis-ˈtir-ē-əs
: containing, suggesting, or presenting a mystery
mysterious noises
also
: difficult or impossible to understand
the mysterious ways of nature
mysteriously
adverb
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