inscrutable
Impossible to interpret
Inscrutable describes something impossible to understand or interpret—a face, expression, or manner that reveals nothing: Her inscrutable smile gave no hint of what she was thinking.
The word often applies to people who conceal their thoughts or emotions, suggesting mystery or deliberate opacity: The diplomat remained inscrutable throughout the negotiations.
Beyond easy comprehension
- unfathomableBeyond comprehension or measurement
- impenetrableImpossible to pass through
- inexplicableCannot be accounted for
- sphinxlikeMysterious and impassive
delphic · cryptic · arcane · unknowable · indecipherable · unreadable · incomprehensible · opaque
Showing no emotion
- impassiveWithout visible emotion
- blankWithout marks or content
- deadpanExpressionless, especially for humor
- stoicUncomplaining endurer of hardship
unreadable · stony · glazed · masked · wooden · emotionless · unexpressive · straight-faced
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- guardedWary and restrained
- distantFar away or aloof
- remoteDistant or controller
- privateRestricted to certain parties
secretive · withdrawn · reticent · taciturn · uncommunicative · closed · inaccessible · standoffish
mysterious
Beyond easy comprehension
- unfathomableBeyond comprehension or measurement
- impenetrableImpossible to pass through
- inexplicableCannot be accounted for
sphinxlike · delphic · cryptic · arcane · unknowable · indecipherable · unreadable · incomprehensible · opaque · obscure
poker-faced
Showing no emotion
- impassiveWithout visible emotion
- blankWithout marks or content
- deadpanExpressionless, especially for humor
stoic · unreadable · stony · glazed · masked · wooden · emotionless · unexpressive · straight-faced · placid
aloof
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
private · secretive · withdrawn · reticent · taciturn · uncommunicative · closed · inaccessible · standoffish · enigmatic
Asian
Of the largest continent
- exoticStrikingly unusual, foreign-seeming
- foreignFrom another nation
- otherworldlySeemingly not earthly
ancient · mystical · Confucian · Taoist · Buddhist · Zen · mandarin · sage · cross-cultural · unfamiliar
- Poker Facepoker face, deadpan, expressionless, unreadable, masklike
- complexitycomplex, complicated, simple, intricate, easy
- hard to readblurry text, illegible, faded print, blurred, smudged
- Mysticalethereal, otherworldly, supernatural, numinous, transcendent
- introvertsintrovert, introverted, shy, reserved, loner
- Kabbalahhod, Tree of Life, tree of life, divine spark, sparks
inscrutableobvious
Easily perceived, unmistakable
clear · transparent · intelligible · comprehensible · understandable
inscrutableexpressive
Showing feelings outwardly
open · readable · transparent · demonstrative · emotive