Difficult to understand or explain; full of secrets
Examples:
"God moves in a mysterious way," he responded.It was the mysterious Mr Porrott.Second, there was the mysterious stranger who had saved his life.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Mystical
/ˈmɪstɪkəl/
Relating to the belief in spiritual truths beyond ordinary understanding.
Examples:
She felt a mystical connection with the ancient forest.The mystical teachings of the guru attracted many followers.A mystical aura surrounded the old mountain cabin.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
Both words relate to something beyond ordinary understanding, but mysterious implies something unknown or unknowable, while mystical often implies a connection to spirituality or the divine.
Mysterious can describe a situation or thing that is difficult to explain or comprehend.
Mystical often describes things associated with mysticism or symbolic spiritual truths.
Think of mysterious as more about unsolvable puzzles or secrets, and mystical as involving spiritual insights.
Consider mysterious for eerie, perplexing scenarios and mystical for experiences invoking a sense of magic or the sacred.