SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
esoteric
adjective
Understood by or intended for a small group with specialized knowledge.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Understood by specialists
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topCryptic suggests hidden or puzzling meaning; esoteric material can be clear to its intended specialists.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See esoteric in use
The seminar explored an esoteric branch of manuscript studies.
The draft exhibition notes mentioned an obscure designer whose work few classmates recognized. They also used esoteric printing terms familiar mainly to a small group of specialist readers.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license