mystification
Art of bewildering
Mystification is the act or result of making something confusing or obscure.
To create mystification is to bewilder, often deliberately: The contract's legal jargon seemed designed for mystification rather than clarity.
The word can describe both the process of obscuring and the confused state that results: Her mystification only grew as he tried to explain.
Puzzling question to solve
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
- cipherHidden writing system
- cryptogramCoded message puzzle
paradox · sphinx · inscrutable · arcane · brainteaser · abstruseness · obscurity · unfathomable
Deliberate concealment through confusion
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- sleightDexterous trickery
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
deceit · dissembling · duplicity · bamboozlement · hoodwinking · chicanery · ruse · feint
Mental state of confusion
- bafflementMental state of confusion
- puzzlementState of being baffled
- befuddlementState of utter confusion
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
disorientation · incomprehension · dumbfounded · flummoxed · nonplussed · confounded · stupefaction · discombobulation
Supernatural or illusory power
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
- illusionistPerformer of visual deception
- sleight-of-handSkillful manual deception
- prestidigitationSkillful hand-based illusions
hocus-pocus · legerdemain · mirage · phantasmagoria · spectacle · enchantment · spellbinding · mesmerism
Involving secret intrigue
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- hiddenKept out of sight
veiled · shrouded · obscured · furtive · surreptitious · undercover · incognito · stealth
Biased information for influence
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- demagogueryManipulative political rhetoric
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
persuasion · spin · groupthink · reeducation · conditioning · coercion · influence · misinformation
riddle
Puzzling question to solve
cryptogram · paradox · sphinx · inscrutable · arcane · brainteaser · abstruseness · obscurity · unfathomable · impenetrable
obfuscation
Deliberate concealment through confusion
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- sleightDexterous trickery
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
subterfuge · deceit · dissembling · duplicity · bamboozlement · hoodwinking · chicanery · ruse · feint · bluff
perplexity
Mental state of confusion
- bafflementMental state of confusion
- puzzlementState of being baffled
- befuddlementState of utter confusion
confusion · disorientation · incomprehension · dumbfounded · flummoxed · nonplussed · confounded · stupefaction · discombobulation · bewildered
magic
Supernatural or illusory power
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
- illusionistPerformer of visual deception
- sleight-of-handSkillful manual deception
prestidigitation · hocus-pocus · legerdemain · mirage · phantasmagoria · spectacle · enchantment · spellbinding · mesmerism · wizardry
cloak-and-dagger
Involving secret intrigue
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
hidden · veiled · shrouded · obscured · furtive · surreptitious · undercover · incognito · stealth · concealed
propaganda
Biased information for influence
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- demagogueryManipulative political rhetoric
disinformation · persuasion · spin · groupthink · reeducation · conditioning · coercion · influence · misinformation · radicalization
- confusionconfusion, confused, bewilderment, perplexity, baffled
- mysteriousnessenigma, mystique, inscrutability, obscurity, crypticness
- disorientationconfusion, dizziness, vertigo, bewilderment, daze
- obsessionsobsession, fixation, monomania, preoccupation, mania
- mythmakingfounding myths, founding myth, origin stories, origin story, mythos
- Orientalismodalisque, orientalism, Egyptology, snake charmer, harems
mystificationenlightenment
Profound spiritual awakening
comprehension · understanding · clarity · clarification · demystification
mystificationclarification
Making meaning plain
explanation · elucidation · illumination · explication · disclosure
mystificationcertainty
Total absence of doubt
certitude · assurance · conviction · confidence · sureness