inscrutable
gb/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/ us/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/
C1
Inglês
kifürkészhetetlen, érthetetlen, átláthatatlan
C1
FORMAL
1
Padrão de uso:
[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.
Exemplos para estudantes
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.
Erro comum:
Don’t confuse with in-/un- prefixes meaning “not”: the word is not *unscrutable* in standard English.
Significado
hard to read or understand
Colocações
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
Sinônimos
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.)
Antônimos
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).)
Temas
people
|emotions
|communication
Definição
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
Padrão de uso:
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.
Exemplos para estudantes
This rule is inscrutable to me.
Számomra ez a szabály teljesen érthetetlen.
The explanation was inscrutable.
A magyarázat érthetetlen volt.
Erro comum:
Avoid using it for something merely unfamiliar; it usually implies serious difficulty in understanding.
Significado
too hard to understand
Colocações
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
Sinônimos
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.)
Antônimos
clear (Easy to understand.)
|
transparent (Openly explained; not hidden or confusing.)
|
comprehensible (Possible to understand.)
Temas
language
|education
|technology
Definição
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.
Gramática
Forma no dicionário
inscrutable
AFI
GB/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/
US/ɪnskɹˈutəbəl/
Sílabas e tonicidade
in - scrut - able (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (scrut)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: inscrutable
Família de palavras
Core family
inscrutability
noun
inscrutably
adverb
Related words
scrutiny
noun C1
scrutinize
verb C1
Advanced or less common
scrutable
adjective
Expressões
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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para estudantes
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para estudantes
- 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.
Exemplos
- He answered with an inscrutable smile.
- She offered an inscrutable smile and changed the subject.
- The CEO’s inscrutable smile made the room uneasy.
Exemplos para estudantes
- He gave an inscrutable smile.