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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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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Recent Examples of arcane
There are plenty of scapegoats: The Senate’s arcane rules, or members who want to go on recess.
—
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 26 June 2025
Her expertise as the Senate’s interpreter of arcane chamber rules cannot be easily replaced with a party loyalist, and her day-to-day duties are nonpartisan in nature, even if she was appointed in 2012 by then-Democratic Leader Harry Reid.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025
Family businesses have been waiting impatiently for certainty on tax policy, as many of the 2017 improvements in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act were made temporary to fit within the Senate’s arcane budget reconciliation restrictions.
—Palmer Schoening, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
The Senate’s become consumed with a debate over the arcane provider tax, a mechanism health care providers use to get more federal dollars for Medicaid.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 26 June 2025
Her expertise as the Senate’s interpreter of arcane chamber rules cannot be easily replaced with a party loyalist, and her day-to-day duties are nonpartisan in nature, even if she was appointed in 2012 by then-Democratic Leader Harry Reid.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025
Family businesses have been waiting impatiently for certainty on tax policy, as many of the 2017 improvements in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act were made temporary to fit within the Senate’s arcane budget reconciliation restrictions.
—Palmer Schoening, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
The Senate’s become consumed with a debate over the arcane provider tax, a mechanism health care providers use to get more federal dollars for Medicaid.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcane
Adjective
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At first, users had to type to do things with files and programs, using esoteric commands to navigate up and down the directory structures that contained them.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
14 July 2025
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After Congress reversed course on accountability in 2015, results for everyone got worse, even as progressive jurisdictions started adopting increasingly esoteric equity strategies.—
Matthew Yglesias,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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In the days leading up to the show, Tyler hinted at a surprise set for July 21 by posting cryptic images on his Instagram, including a Louis Vuitton bag, a mannequin’s head and a trumpet player in a band uniform.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
19 July 2025
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The Wall Street Journal reported in the evening on July 17 that Trump sent Epstein a lewd, cryptic letter for his 50th birthday.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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More Miguel Rodriguez/Getty Images What's so mysterious about a team playing well?—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
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Years after gaining superpowers from being bombarded by cosmic rays in space, the astronauts-turned-superheroes face a new threat when the mysterious Silver Surfer, Shalla-Bal (Julia Garner), heralds the coming of the world-devouring Galactus (Ralph Ineson).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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In 2012, Phyllis Barkman Ferrell experienced a profound irony.—
Juergen Eckhardt,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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Close to a third lose their job, and the social isolation can be profound.—
April Dembosky,
NPR,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Automate routine monitoring, but require cross-functional review for ambiguous or high-impact alerts, providing clear explanations.—
Dr. Chiranjiv Roy,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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At times, though, there’s nothing ambiguous or veiled in his work.—
Anastasia Tsioulcas,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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The man from Osaka’s right arm is almost mystic, like one of California’s solemn redwoods.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 July 2025
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Further projects include psychological thriller The Olive Press, set in the mystic world of the Druze community in Mount Lebanon, from writer and director Samah El Kadi, and co-written by Nadim Chammas.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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In order to produce so many shows, Marvel had to mine the depths of its archives which led to productions based on obscure characters that many fans didn't care about.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Provider tax The bill includes a rather obscure change that could cost the state millions of dollars and, in turn, a reduction in services.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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There is also a slightly uncanny aspect to FedEx that felt fitting.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
20 July 2025
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Not so long ago in a living room not too far away, an uncanny replica of K-2SO stands at seven-feet tall in front of Ermer Twano’s television set.—
Olivia Petty,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcane. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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