inscrutable
gb/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/ us/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/
C1
English
kifürkészhetetlen, érthetetlen, átláthatatlan
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is inscrutable; inscrutable to [someone]
She listened without interrupting, her face inscrutable.
Félbeszakítás nélkül hallgatta, az arca kifürkészhetetlen maradt.
His motives were inscrutable to the rest of the team.
Az indítékai kifürkészhetetlenek voltak a csapat többi tagja számára.
The judge remained inscrutable as the verdict was read.
Learner examples
He is inscrutable, so I can’t tell what he thinks.
Kifürkészhetetlen, ezért nem tudom, mire gondol.
Her expression stayed inscrutable.
Az arckifejezése kifürkészhetetlen maradt.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with in-/un- prefixes meaning “not”: the word is not *unscrutable* in standard English.
Meaning
hard to read or understand
Collocations
an inscrutable expression
|an inscrutable face
|an inscrutable smile
|an inscrutable look
|an inscrutable gaze
|an inscrutable manner
|an inscrutable silence
|inscrutable motives
|remain inscrutable
|seem inscrutable
Synonyms
unreadable (Commonly used for faces or people you can’t interpret.)
|
enigmatic (Suggests puzzling mystery, sometimes intriguing.)
|
mysterious (More general; can mean unknown as well as hard to understand.)
|
impenetrable (Stronger; emphasizes that understanding cannot get through.)
Antonyms
transparent (Easy to see through; feelings or intentions are obvious.)
|
open (Willing to show feelings or intentions.)
|
readable (Easy to interpret (especially of a face or expression).)
Themes
people
|emotions
|communication
Definition
If someone is inscrutable, you cannot tell what they are thinking or feeling.
Difficult or impossible to understand or interpret, especially a person’s thoughts, feelings, or motives.
C1
FORMAL
2
érthetetlen
B2
Usage pattern:
an inscrutable [thing]
The instructions were so inscrutable that we gave up and watched a tutorial.
Az útmutató annyira érthetetlen volt, hogy feladtuk, és inkább megnéztünk egy oktatóvideót.
To newcomers, the company’s approval process can seem inscrutable.
Az újonnan érkezőknek a vállalat jóváhagyási folyamata átláthatatlannak tűnhet.
The plot became increasingly inscrutable in the final episode.
Learner examples
This rule is inscrutable to me.
Számomra ez a szabály teljesen érthetetlen.
The explanation was inscrutable.
A magyarázat érthetetlen volt.
Common mistake:
Avoid using it for something merely unfamiliar; it usually implies serious difficulty in understanding.
Meaning
too hard to understand
Collocations
inscrutable jargon
|inscrutable rules
|inscrutable logic
|inscrutable code
|an inscrutable formula
|an inscrutable system
|an inscrutable decision
|inscrutable bureaucracy
|an inscrutable explanation
|an inscrutable text
Synonyms
incomprehensible (Direct and strong; focuses on inability to understand.)
|
opaque (Often used for writing, policies, or explanations that aren’t clear.)
|
baffling (Emphasizes confusion and puzzlement.)
Antonyms
clear (Easy to understand.)
|
transparent (Openly explained; not hidden or confusing.)
|
comprehensible (Possible to understand.)
Themes
language
|education
|technology
Definition
If something is inscrutable, it is very hard to understand.
So difficult to understand, explain, or interpret that it seems impossible to make sense of it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
inscrutable
IPA
GB/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/
US/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/
Syllables & stress
in - scrut - able (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (scrut)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: inscrutable
Word family
Core family
inscrutability
noun
inscrutably
adverb
Related words
scrutiny
noun C1
scrutinize
verb C1
Advanced or less common
scrutable
adjective
Expressions
an inscrutable expression
1/ən ɪnskɹˈutəbəl ɪkspɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
a face that reveals nothing
A look on someone’s face that you cannot understand.
Examples
- He gave an inscrutable expression and said nothing.
- She watched the argument with an inscrutable expression.
- The interviewer kept an inscrutable expression throughout the answers.
Learner examples
- She had an inscrutable expression.
an inscrutable look
1/ən ɪnskɹˈutəbəl lˈʊk/
fixed phrase
formal
a look that reveals nothing
A look on someone’s face that is hard to understand.
Examples
- She gave me an inscrutable look and walked away.
- He met the accusation with an inscrutable look.
- The teacher paused, then fixed the class with an inscrutable look.
Learner examples
- She gave him an inscrutable look.
an inscrutable smile
1/ən ɪnskɹˈutəbəl smˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
formal
a smile with hidden meaning
A smile that you cannot understand.
Examples
- He answered with an inscrutable smile.
- She offered an inscrutable smile and changed the subject.
- The CEO’s inscrutable smile made the room uneasy.
Learner examples
- He gave an inscrutable smile.