mystifiers
Those who baffle
Mystifiers are people or things that mystify—that bewilder, perplex, or deliberately obscure understanding.
A puzzle that defies solution is a mystifier.
So is a person who confuses others, whether through incompetence or intent: The accountant turned out to be one of the great mystifiers of the financial world.
Magicians and con artists alike qualify as mystifiers.
People who cheat others
- fraudstersPeople who deceive for gain
- deceiversThose who mislead intentionally
- bamboozlersThose who deceive others
- hoaxersThose who deceive deliberately
swindlers · impostors · pretenders · dissemblers · obfuscators · manipulators · double-talkers · smoke screens
Entertainers creating false perceptions
- conjurersPractitioners of stage magic
- magiciansPractitioners of sleight-of-hand
- trickstersThose who mislead deliberately
- prestidigitatorsSkilled hand-trick performers
escape artists · sleight-of-hand · Houdini · mentalists · stage performers · card sharps · levitators · disappearing acts
Seekers of fundamental truths
- theoristsBuilders of explanatory frameworks
- academicsProfessional researchers and teachers
- sophistsPurveyors of specious reasoning
- riddlersThose who pose enigmas
Zen masters · koans · metaphysicians · occultists · symbolists
Inexplicable mysteries
- riddlesPuzzling questions or teasers
- brainteasersProblems testing mental agility
- conundrumsPerplexing difficult problems
- cryptic cluesOblique crossword-style hints
ciphers · codes · rebuses · logic puzzles · sphinx · paradoxes · whodunits · escape rooms
con artists
People who cheat others
- fraudstersPeople who deceive for gain
- deceiversThose who mislead intentionally
- bamboozlersThose who deceive others
hoaxers · swindlers · impostors · pretenders · dissemblers · obfuscators · manipulators · double-talkers · smoke screens · gaslighters
illusionists
Entertainers creating false perceptions
- conjurersPractitioners of stage magic
- magiciansPractitioners of sleight-of-hand
- trickstersThose who mislead deliberately
prestidigitators · escape artists · sleight-of-hand · Houdini · mentalists · stage performers · card sharps · levitators · disappearing acts · smoke and mirrors
philosophers
Seekers of fundamental truths
- theoristsBuilders of explanatory frameworks
- academicsProfessional researchers and teachers
- sophistsPurveyors of specious reasoning
riddlers · Zen masters · koans · metaphysicians · occultists · symbolists
enigmas
Inexplicable mysteries
- riddlesPuzzling questions or teasers
- brainteasersProblems testing mental agility
- conundrumsPerplexing difficult problems
cryptic clues · ciphers · codes · rebuses · logic puzzles · sphinx · paradoxes · whodunits · escape rooms · sudoku
- puzzlespuzzles, sudoku, jigsaw puzzle, puzzle cube, crossword
- puzzlerspuzzle master, brainteasers, brain-teasers, conundrums, enigmas
mystifiersexplainers
Those who clarify meaning
clarifiers · illuminators · interpreters · simplifiers · demystifiers
mystifierstruth-tellers
Those who state facts
revealers · informers · whistleblowers · debunkers · exposers
mystifiersdemystifiers
Those who clarify confusion
simplifiers · decoders · decipherers · unravelers · analysts