Mystery And Suspense Vocabulary

adjective partially open

• The door was left slightly ajar, allowing a sliver of light to filter through.
• I noticed the window was left ajar, probably to let some fresh air in.
• The gate was left ajar, so we just snuck in through the gap.
• Her mind was ajar to new ideas after attending the seminar.

verb past tense of the verb 'baffle', meaning to confuse or puzzle

adjective feeling or showing confusion or bewilderment

• The scientist was baffled by the unexpected results of the experiment.
• I'm completely baffled by the instructions for this new software.
• I was totally baffled by the plot twist in that movie.
• Her mind was a maze of thoughts, leaving her feeling utterly baffled.

noun a small, narrow opening or crevice, especially in a wall or rock

verb none

adjective none

adverb none

pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

article none

• The detective searched every cranny of the crime scene for clues.
• I found a hidden note in the cranny of my backpack.
• I stashed some cash in the cranny of my room for safekeeping.
• She explored every cranny of her mind to find inspiration for her writing.

noun the act of eluding or the state of being eluded

verb to evade or escape from someone or something by cunning or skill

• Despite numerous attempts, the solution continues to elude us.
• I can't seem to elude this cold no matter what I do.
• The thief managed to elude the police by hiding in an abandoned building.
• The answer to the problem always seems to elude me, like a fleeting shadow.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'looking' is a noun that refers to the act of directing one's gaze in a particular direction.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'evil looking' describes the noun it is referring to as having a malevolent or sinister appearance.

• The evil looking man stood at the entrance of the dark alleyway.
• I saw this really evil looking dude hanging around the corner.
• That evil looking guy gives me the creeps.
• The storm clouds gathered overhead, casting an evil looking shadow over the town.

adjective unable to be explained or understood

• The sudden disappearance of the artifact remains inexplicable to experts.
• I can't explain why he did that, it's just inexplicable.
• It's totally wack, the whole situation is inexplicable.
• Her beauty was so mesmerizing, it was inexplicable.

noun a secret or underhanded scheme; a plot

verb to arouse the curiosity or interest of; to fascinate

• The intricate plot of the novel managed to intrigue even the most discerning readers.
• I can't wait to find out what happens next in the story, it's really intriguing.
• That movie had so many twists and turns, it really had me intrigued.
• Her mysterious smile always managed to intrigue those around her.

noun a ghost or spirit

adjective relating to, or characteristic of a phantom

• The phantom of the opera is a well-known character in literature.
• I thought I saw a phantom in the old abandoned house last night.
• That phantom driver cut me off on the highway!
• The phantom of doubt haunted her thoughts as she made the decision.

adjective lacking or devoid of reason; senseless or irrational

• The decision to terminate the contract was deemed reasonless by the board of directors.
• She broke up with him for reasonless excuses.
• I can't believe she got fired for such a reasonless thing.
• His actions were reasonless, like a ship sailing without a compass.

noun a quality or state of being scary or causing fear

• The scariness of the horror movie was intensified by the eerie soundtrack.
• I can't handle the scariness of that haunted house!
• The scariness of that roller coaster was off the charts!
• The scariness of facing my fears is overwhelming, but I know I need to do it to grow.

noun a thing that is not known or specified

pronoun used to refer to a thing that is not known or specified

• She felt like she was missing something important during the meeting.
• I think there's something fishy going on here.
• Let's go grab something to eat, I'm starving.
• His words were like something out of a fairy tale, too good to be true.

adjective not known or realized

• Unbeknown to the public, the company had been facing financial difficulties for months.
• Little did she know, her friends were planning a surprise party for her unbeknown.
• He was unbeknown to the fact that his crush liked him back.
• The true meaning of the painting was unbeknown to most viewers.

noun a state of darkness or obscurity

adjective dark, dim, or misty

• The caliginous atmosphere of the cave made it difficult to see beyond a few feet.
• I couldn't find my way in the caliginous room without turning on the lights.
• The party was so caliginous, I could barely see who was there.
• His mind was in a caliginous state, clouded with confusion and doubt.

adjective partially open or not closed properly

• The door was left slightly ajar with a draft coming in.
• The window was left ajar with a breeze blowing through.
• The gate was left ajar with some kids sneaking in.
• His mind was left ajar with confusion and uncertainty.