Word Explorer

Esoteric

/ˌɛs.əʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/

An esoteric doctrine or treatise; esoteric philosophy.

📖 Definitions of "Esoteric"

noun

adjective

1
Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest, or an enlightened inner circle.
"The writing in this manual is very esoteric; I’d need a degree in engineering just to understand it!"
2
Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application; often with mystical or religious connotations.
3
Confidential; private.
"an esoteric meeting"

13 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
crypticnoun	Having hidden (unapparent) meaning.
reconditenoun	(of areas of discussion or research) Difficult, obscure.
mystical	Having a spiritual or magical significance that transcends human understanding.
deepnoun	(of distance or position; also figurative) Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards.
occultnoun	Related to the occult; pertaining to mysticism, magic, or astrology.
abstruse	Difficult to comprehend or understand; obscure.
mysterious	Difficult to understand.
sibyllinenoun	Of or pertaining to or resembling a sibyl or female oracle, especially the Cumaean Sibyl and the Sibylline Books.
secretnoun	(countable) A piece of knowledge that is hidden and intended to be kept hidden.
arcane	Understood by only a few.
cabalistic	Of or relating to Kabbalah.
cryptical	cryptic
mysticnoun	Of, or relating to mystics, mysticism or occult mysteries; mystical.

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
exotericnoun	Of a doctrine, information, etc.: suitable to be imparted to the public without secrecy or other reservations.

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
mystical	Having a spiritual or magical significance that transcends human understanding.
mysticnoun	Of, or relating to mystics, mysticism or occult mysteries; mystical.
arcane	Understood by only a few.
deep	(of distance or position; also figurative) Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards.
recondite	(of areas of discussion or research) Difficult, obscure.
secret	Being or kept hidden.
occultnoun	Related to the occult; pertaining to mysticism, magic, or astrology.
cryptic	Having hidden (unapparent) meaning.
cryptical	cryptic
abstruse	Difficult to comprehend or understand; obscure.
mysterious	Difficult to understand.
cabalistic	Of or relating to Kabbalah.
sibylline	Of or pertaining to or resembling a sibyl or female oracle, especially the Cumaean Sibyl and the Sibylline Books.
acroamatic	Esoteric, abstruse; (in particular) taught orally to select students and not disseminated.
obscure	Difficult to understand; abstruse.
unclear	Not clearly or explicitly defined.
dark	Having an absolute or (more often) relative lack of light.
enigmatic	Mysterious.
inscrutablenoun	Difficult or impossible to comprehend, fathom, or interpret.
elusive	Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.