OCCULT Synonyms: 252 Similar and Opposite Words

occult 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈkəlt

Definition of occult

as in mysterious

being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain the occult ways in which the human mind works

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ambiguous

having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning an occult reference in the text that has puzzled scholars ever since

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in magic

having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers Great Britain's Stonehenge is one of those occult places where people expect something of cosmic significance to happen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

occult

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈkəlt

as in to obscure

to keep secret or shut off from view occulted their house from prying eyes by planting large trees around it the actor's private life had long been occulted by a contrived public persona

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 occult

Adjective

While series like zombie horror All of Us Are Dead or monster drama Sweet Home have found massive success, there has yet to be an occult K-drama that truly breaks through. — Kayti Burt, Time, 24 Apr. 2026 There, a new school of artists, thinkers and card readers began to see tarot as infused with a deep, occult significance. — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2025

Verb

In fact, the speedy planet is occulted (hidden) by the sun's disk, but of course, this event is unobservable. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 May 2026 When To See The ‘snow Moon’ Occult Regulus Just a day after the full wolf supermoon, the near-full moon will occult Regulus for about an hour, as seen from the eastern half of North America. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for occult

Recent Examples of Synonyms for occult

Adjective

Someone who has regarded filmmaking as a mysterious occupation might begin to see a way into it.

— Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
But despite these regular airings, the origin of the mysterious Jardine Star Brooch has remained tantalizingly unexplained for decades.

— Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of mysterious

Adjective

But the future of early-career employment is increasingly ambiguous, largely due to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

— Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
From here on out, the authorship of Tae-ju’s life is ambiguous, as well as constantly in flux, buffeted by the whims and suggestions of others, as well as by her own impulses.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of ambiguous

Verb

What resonated most for me, though, was witnessing conversations where depth of understanding unveiled perspectives previously obscured.

— Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
While the planets in our solar system are still visible, sky glow obscures more distant objects, such as fainter stars.

— Chris McMullen, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of obscure

Adjective

The cryptic eco-disaster project will represent a loss of hundreds of millions when all is said and done.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Emanuel’s cryptic comment comes amid claims that Meghan was in early talks to star in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

Chalk it up to my obsession with Twin Peaks, affinity for mossy landscapes, and lifelong fascination with all things misty and mystic; the Pacific Northwest has always felt like a second home.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
Two translations—of poems by the Indian mystic Mirabai and the contemporary Romanian poet Radu Vancu—seek to inhabit and transcend the history that holds up the present.

— Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of mystic

Adjective

But these magical, convention-defying places are also one of our greatest allies in the fight against climate change.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
While the name sounds dramatic, Goble said there is nothing magical about crossing that temperature threshold.

— Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of magical

Verb

The listening device was plugged into a USB port on the back of a television, concealed by a small piece of toilet paper, according to the FBI.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
The device, which had a detachable camera sensor, digital microphone, and microSD storage, was concealed in toilet paper, according to the complaint.

— Dan Mangan,Eamon Javers,Paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of conceal

Browse Nearby Words

occluding

occult

occulted

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Occult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occult. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of occult

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes