cryptic.

1. Expressed so obscurely or indirectly that its meaning is hard to understand.

2. Hidden or difficult to detect, especially because an organism’s appearance blends with its surroundings.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• cryptic message
• cryptic remark
• cryptic clue

On the page

The note contained a cryptic reference to the western stair.

His answer was more cryptic than the question.

Only after the funeral did she understand the cryptic remark.

Usage notes

Primary category: gothic. Often used for messages or remarks; may be deliberate. Not equivalent to secret: everyone may see a cryptic message. Comparative more cryptic; superlative most cryptic. Derived adverb cryptically.