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View synonyms for esoteric

esoteric

[ es-uh-ter-ik ]

adjective

  1. understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite:

    poetry full of esoteric allusions.

    Synonyms: enigmatic, cryptic, arcane, abstruse

  2. belonging to the select few.
  3. private; secret; confidential.
  4. (of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group:

    the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras.



esoteric

/ ˌɛsəʊˈtɛrɪk /

adjective

  1. restricted to or intended for an enlightened or initiated minority, esp because of abstruseness or obscurity Compare exoteric

    an esoteric cult

  2. difficult to understand; abstruse

    an esoteric statement

  3. not openly admitted; private

    esoteric aims



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Derived Forms

  • ˌesoˈterically, adverb
  • ˌesoˈteriˌcism, noun

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Other Words From

  • eso·teri·cal·ly adverb
  • nones·o·teric adjective
  • nones·o·teri·cal·ly adverb
  • unes·o·teric adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of esoteric1

First recorded in 1645–55; from Greek esōterikós “inner,” equivalent to esṓter(os) “inner” + -ikos -ic

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Word History and Origins

Origin of esoteric1

C17: from Greek esōterikos, from esōterō inner

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Example Sentences

Ted is a quirky guy that loves esoteric topics like Teddy Roosevelt trivia and the history of belts.

There is a pill in Tibetan Buddhism that contains a lot of esoteric ingredients, some of which are bodily substances.

He noted that some esoteric historians call them “Palestinians.”

Suddenly you can hold forth about leading and kerning and other esoteric aspects of typesetting.

In the old days it was not uncommon for the admissions officer to pose some esoteric—make that wacko—question.

His esoteric project was the original project of Christopher Columbus, extended and modified.

I think that sort of thing appeals especially to me because my own design isn't in the least esoteric.

Petuléngro, farrier, the esoteric Romany name of the Smith family.

Yet it is known that we have several branches of these same Esoteric Masonic Lodges carrying on their deadly work in our midst.

This was the origin of the rites more public, yet certainly esoteric, that he at last found himself able to establish.

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