esoteric

adjective

ˌe-sə-ˈter-ik How to pronounce esoteric (audio)
Definition of esotericnext
1
as in profound
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand metaphysics is such an esoteric subject that most people are content to leave it to the philosophers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace must have had some esoteric motive for leaving his art collection to a museum halfway around the globe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of esoteric That helps explain the vast selection of RCPO watches at the roadshow event featuring blinding amounts of gemstones, esoteric stone dials and paperwork validating that they were restored exclusively in Geneva at the brand’s Restoration Atelier. — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 20 Aug. 2026 The idea that casual audiences on TV — people who weren’t gamers willing to grind to 100 percent completion to unlock an esoteric, secret two-minute cutscene ending — was almost unthinkable. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026 Microwave Cooking Gear Some of my essentials so far capture the more esoteric elements of touring life, but this is strictly practical. — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026 Not in the esoteric way that speaks to intellectuals and insiders. — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for esoteric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for esoteric
  1. profound
  2. confidential
  3. scholarly
  4. private
  5. secret
  6. undisclosed
Adjective
  • The authors argue that this has profound implications for composite materials in general.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Twenty-nine years have passed since then, yet the memory of the princess—an empathetic woman who defied convention, vulnerable yet rebellious, and imbued with a profound humanity—remains vivid and very much alive in the eyes of the entire world.
    — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of profound
Adjective
  • The issue becomes much more serious if someone with confidential advance knowledge uses that information for personal financial gain.
    — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In May 2022, the SEC said, Wolfe contacted Satsky seeking confidential updates on the regulatory approval process.
    — Chase Jordan August 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of confidential
Adjective
  • Both are craftsmen, interested in immediate emotional response over esoteric scholarly unpacking.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Its attribution and history have attracted extensive scholarly attention.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of scholarly
Adjective
  • Some are worried about the legal implications of handling such large quantities of previously private game builds as well.
    — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In the village of Bilbasovka in eastern Ukraine, a 13-year-old child and an adult died after Russian troops dropped bombs on private houses Sunday, according to local official Vadim Lyakh.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of private
Adjective
  • From a secret Las Vegas elopement in January that cost the couple only $799, as Windey told Cosmopolitan, to an April courthouse ceremony.
    — Mariah Alanskas, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Niemiller and his team have named the new species Demogorgonichthys arcanus, a wink to the otherworldly creature that emerged in a secret federal lab in the Netflix series Stranger Things.
    — Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of secret
Adjective
  • Horton has not practiced recently due to an undisclosed injury and was not on the practice field on Sunday.
    — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Its computing power in TOPS, or trillions of operations per second, remains undisclosed.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of undisclosed

Browse Nearby Words

esculent
esoteric
esotericism
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Esoteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/esoteric. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All