What does cryptic mean?
Word: Cryptic
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Cryptic means having a meaning that is kept out of sight and is hard to work out.
Synonyms: puzzling, mysterious
How do you spell cryptic?
Syllables: cryp - tic
Tricky part: The short i sound in the first syllable is spelt with a y, so criptic is the usual slip.
Watch out for: criptic, cryptik, cryptick
Memory tip: A cryptic note makes you ask why, so put the y straight after the r.
Cryptic in a sentence
Example 1: Grandpa left a cryptic message on the fridge about a surprise in the garden.
Example 2: She gave a cryptic smile and would not explain the joke.
Example 3: His reply was so cryptic that we had to read it three times.
Fun Fact
British newspapers print cryptic crosswords, in which each clue hides a trick of wordplay as well as a plain definition.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose what it means.
1. brillant 2. cryptic 3. lethargik 4. meticulus
a) worded so that the sense stays obscure
b) lacking energy and keen to do nothing
c) giving careful attention to every detail
d) very clever or very bright
Show answer
a) worded so that the sense stays obscure. Brilliant, lethargic and meticulous all have a slip, which leaves cryptic.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word cryptic as used in the sentence:
The sign at the cave entrance was so cryptic that none of the hikers could tell which path to take.
a) rusty
b) painted
c) short
d) clear
Show answer
d) clear. A clear sign would have told the hikers the way; this one left them guessing.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The treasure-hunt organiser wrote a yircpct clue that only the oldest pupils could solve.
a) cyclic
b) crystal
c) critic
d) cryptic
Show answer
d) cryptic. Crystal has no i, cyclic no t and critic no y, so cryptic it is.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
crypptic
a) c
b) y
c) t
d) p
Show answer
d) p. One p is all the word needs before the t.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would most likely be called cryptic?
a) a bus timetable on a station wall
b) a recipe with numbered steps
c) a shopping list for the weekend
d) a one-line riddle with a clever twist
Show answer
d) a one-line riddle with a clever twist
2. Why might a writer make a message cryptic on purpose?
a) to help young readers follow it
b) to make it quicker to print
c) to keep its sense from most readers
d) to fit more words on a page
Show answer
c) to keep its sense from most readers
