inscrutable
gb/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/ us/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/
C1
Inglese
Accezioni
0 accezioni
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
hard to read or understand
If someone is inscrutable, you cannot tell what they are thinking or feeling.
Schema d'uso:
[someone] is inscrutable; inscrutable to [someone]
Errore comune:
Don’t confuse with in-/un- prefixes meaning “not”: the word is not *unscrutable* in standard English.
Sinonimi
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.)
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impenetrable (Stronger; emphasizes that understanding cannot get through.)
Contrari
transparent (Easy to see through; feelings or intentions are obvious.)
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open (Willing to show feelings or intentions.)
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readable (Easy to interpret (especially of a face or expression).)
Collocazioni
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
Temi
people
|emotions
|communication
Esempi
- She listened without interrupting, her face inscrutable.
- His motives were inscrutable to the rest of the team.
- The judge remained inscrutable as the verdict was read.
Esempi per chi studia
- He is inscrutable, so I can’t tell what he thinks.
- Her expression stayed inscrutable.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
too hard to understand
If something is inscrutable, it is very hard to understand.
Schema d'uso:
an inscrutable [thing]
Errore comune:
Avoid using it for something merely unfamiliar; it usually implies serious difficulty in understanding.
Sinonimi
incomprehensible (Direct and strong; focuses on inability to understand.)
|
opaque (Often used for writing, policies, or explanations that aren’t clear.)
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baffling (Emphasizes confusion and puzzlement.)
Contrari
clear (Easy to understand.)
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transparent (Openly explained; not hidden or confusing.)
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comprehensible (Possible to understand.)
Collocazioni
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
Temi
language
|education
|technology
Esempi
- The instructions were so inscrutable that we gave up and watched a tutorial.
- To newcomers, the company’s approval process can seem inscrutable.
- The plot became increasingly inscrutable in the final episode.
Esempi per chi studia
- This rule is inscrutable to me.
- The explanation was inscrutable.
Grammatica
Forma base
inscrutable
IPA
GB/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/
US/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/
Sillabe e accento
in - scrut - able (3 sillabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (scrut)
Forme flesse
Adjective
- Base: inscrutable
Famiglia di parole
Core family
inscrutability
noun
inscrutably
adverb
Related words
scrutiny
noun C1
scrutinize
verb C1
Advanced or less common
scrutable
adjective
Espressioni
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.
Esempi
- 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.
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.
Esempi
- 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.
an inscrutable smile
1/ən ɪnskɹˈutəbəl smˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
formal
a smile with hidden meaning
A smile that you cannot understand.
Esempi
- He answered with an inscrutable smile.
- She offered an inscrutable smile and changed the subject.
- The CEO’s inscrutable smile made the room uneasy.