Abstruse
Abstruse adjective - Difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand.
Usage example: you're not the only one who finds Einstein's theory of relativity abstruse
Cryptic is a synonym for abstruse in obscure topic. In some cases you can use "Cryptic" instead an adjective "Abstruse", when it comes to topics like mysterious.
Nearby Word: abstrusity
Cryptic
Cryptic adjective - Being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain.
Usage example: puzzled by the cryptic e-mail message left on his computer
Abstruse is a synonym for cryptic in mysterious topic. You can use "Abstruse" instead an adjective "Cryptic", if it concerns topics such as secret, enigmatic.
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- deep and abstruse
- deep and cryptic
- profound and abstruse
- profound and cryptic
- unfathomable and abstruse
- unfathomable and cryptic
- obscure and abstruse
- obscure and cryptic
- ambiguous and abstruse
- ambiguous and cryptic
- esoteric and abstruse
- esoteric and cryptic
- recondite and abstruse
- recondite and cryptic
Both words in one sentence
- Rage Against the Mentor: The result of heroes getting fed up with abstruse and cryptic mentors and allies.
Source: Poor Communication Kills
Cite this Source
Cryptic and Abstruse. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/abstruse/cryptic
Abstruse & Cryptic. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/abstruse/cryptic>.
Cryptic or Abstruse. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/abstruse/cryptic.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "abstruse" and "cryptic" have occurred on timeline