variants
or elliptic
1
as in cryptic
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
the poet's elliptical style is such that the reader often senses that an allusion is being made—but to what exactly?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
his elliptical replies can seem rude to some people, but that's just his way
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 elliptical
Remove sweat and dirt from your elliptical machine after every use with a soft microfiber cloth dampened with either warm soapy water or a mild disinfectant.
—
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2025
The building is dead center in an elliptical suburban office park where the roads leading up to it and the parking that surrounds it are arranged in perfect symmetry.
—Diana Budds, Curbed, 24 Jan. 2025
The existence of annular and total solar eclipses is explained by the moon's slightly elliptical orbit, which means its apparent size waxes and wanes over the course of a month.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Seated across from each other at the elliptical mahogany table, Musk and Rubio exchanged sharp words as President Trump and his top officials looked on.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2025
The building is dead center in an elliptical suburban office park where the roads leading up to it and the parking that surrounds it are arranged in perfect symmetry.
—Diana Budds, Curbed, 24 Jan. 2025
The existence of annular and total solar eclipses is explained by the moon's slightly elliptical orbit, which means its apparent size waxes and wanes over the course of a month.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Seated across from each other at the elliptical mahogany table, Musk and Rubio exchanged sharp words as President Trump and his top officials looked on.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elliptical
Adjective
-
The Bachelor alum took to social media on Wednesday, March 19, with a cryptic message seemingly responding to her ex-boyfriend Brendan Morais’ hard launch with his new girlfriend Serene Russell.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
-
The episode ends with a cryptic phone call to Luca from a family member, hinting at their ties to the resort.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Kohler Sunstruck oval tub is standard in the primary bathroom if this layout is chosen.—
Benjamin C Tankersley,
Washington Post,
1 Feb. 2023
-
This simple opener works well on circular cans but may not be effective on dented, square, or oval cans.—
Maya Polton,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
This Side of the Island is a more concise and conceptual effort, compared to his last full-length, 2020’s The Loves of Your Life, which is a masterpiece of musical storytelling.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
Billboard,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Keeping prices down Bartell, who is the president of Bartell Hotels and the chairman of the San Diego Tourism Marketing District, attributes the extended success of Humphreys to a concise plan.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Team Harris’s strategy appeared to rely heavily on a short campaign window, with a sparse interview schedule, slow windup to unscripted events, and ambiguous policy positions.—
W. James Antle III,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Instead, security leaders typically present compliance checklists, regulatory obligations and ambiguous risk scores that executives then struggle to translate into financial and operational impact.—
Jerry Layden,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The tour through Rome’s historic center came after Francis made his first appearance in five weeks to give a thumbs-up and brief blessing from a hospital balcony.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
-
In addition to her recurring role on Melrose Place as antagonistic neurosurgeon Dr. Irene Shulman, Young has guest starred on Bones, This Is Us, and made a brief appearance in the Marvel superhero threequel Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).—
Andrew Walsh,
EW.com,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news Black holes are enigmatic yet simplistic astronomical forces at the center of science fiction and scientific discovery alike.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Discover Magazine,
21 Mar. 2025
-
And navigating it all with an enigmatic effervescence was Paige Davis.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Scheer was smart to whittle down the novel’s winding sentences into short, sharp exclamations and curt instructions — and also to be faithful to Melville’s rendition of the captain’s irritable diction.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
-
There were abrasive, curt interviews with the media.—
Cam Inman,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
They were forced to their knees and guards shaved their heads and faces with blunt swoops of an electric razor.—
Josh Meyer,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
-
While metal grooming tools can seem intense, they are typically designed with blunt or curved teeth to ensure that no sharp edge ever comes in contact with your cat’s skin.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elliptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elliptical. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share