cryptid
Alleged mystery beast
A cryptid is a creature whose existence is claimed but not scientifically verified—Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the chupacabra.
The term belongs to cryptozoology, the study of such alleged animals.
Cryptids occupy a space between folklore and zoology, taken seriously by enthusiasts but dismissed by mainstream science: He spent years searching for cryptids in the Pacific Northwest.
Winged humanoid cryptid
- chupacabraFolklore's livestock-draining monster
- yetiMythical Himalayan ape-man
- sasquatchLegendary North American ape-man
- thunderbirdSpirit bird causing tempests
Unverified traditional tale
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- oral-historyRecorded firsthand accounts
storytelling · tradition · sighting · encounter · eyewitness · testimony
Deliberate deception for effect
- footprintMark from stepping
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- researcherOne who studies systematically
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
sighting · documentary · sonar · debunker · believer · skeptic
Something hard to fathom
- unknownNot yet discovered
- unexplainedNot yet clarified
- elusiveHard to find
- hiddenKept out of sight
undiscovered · unseen · unverified · unproven · disputed · ambiguous · puzzling · inexplicable
mothman
Winged humanoid cryptid
- chupacabraFolklore's livestock-draining monster
- yetiMythical Himalayan ape-man
- sasquatchLegendary North American ape-man
thunderbird · bunyip · dogman
legend
Unverified traditional tale
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- taleSpoken or written narrative
oral-history · storytelling · tradition · sighting · encounter · eyewitness · testimony
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
- footprintMark from stepping
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- researcherOne who studies systematically
evidence · sighting · documentary · sonar · debunker · believer · skeptic
enigma
Something hard to fathom
- unknownNot yet discovered
- unexplainedNot yet clarified
- elusiveHard to find
hidden · undiscovered · unseen · unverified · unproven · disputed · ambiguous · puzzling · inexplicable · unidentified
wilderness
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
mountain · cave · remote · backcountry · murky · Himalayas · Amazon · Appalachia · outback · bayou
- beingsbeings, being, entities, entity, creatures
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- mysteriesmystery, enigma, enigmas, puzzle, riddle
- seldom seenrare bird, comet, eclipse, aurora, shooting star
- UnexplainedUFO, ghost sighting, Bigfoot sighting, UFO sighting, apparition
- cryptidsBigfoot, sasquatch, yeti, Nessie, Loch Ness Monster
- cryptic messageObscure, puzzling communication
- cryptic crosswordGrid solved through wordplay
- cryptic cluePuzzle hint with misdirection
- crypt keeperGuardian of underground tombs
- cryptic symbolsObscure meaningful marks
- cryptic behaviorDeliberately obscure actions
cryptic, crypt, cryptogram, decrypt, encryption, encrypt, encrypted, cryptography, encrypting