inscrutable

If someone's face is inscrutable, it is like trying to read a closed book: you cannot tell what they are thinking or feeling. Think of a poker player with a perfect "poker face." That person seems impossible to read. The word comes from the Latin "scrutari," meaning "to search," so something inscrutable cannot be easily understood. A complex math equation, an ancient riddle, or a calm expression can all be described as inscrutable.

Imagine you're watching someone carefully, trying to guess their next move. Their face remains perfectly still, giving away no hint of what is going on inside. That person is inscrutable—impossible to interpret or understand. The word suggests that something gives you very few clues, whether that is natural or intentional.

Originally, "inscrutable" meant something that could not be examined closely enough to understand, like the vastness of space or the mysteries of the universe. Over time, it also came to describe people whose expressions and intentions are hard to read. A seasoned diplomat might have an inscrutable demeanor that reveals little. An ancient artifact with markings no one can understand might also be considered inscrutable.

You might encounter inscrutable used to describe not just people, but also complex systems or abstract concepts. "The workings of the stock market are often inscrutable," suggests that its patterns and fluctuations are difficult to predict or explain.

So, when something is inscrutable, it's a puzzle wrapped in an enigma—challenging your ability to perceive, understand, or unravel its secrets. It is more than just mysterious; it actively resists being understood.