Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

mystify

/ˈmɪstɪfaɪ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.92 in modern English

Syllables: mys-ti-fy
IPA: /ˈmɪstɪfaɪ/

18

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To thoroughly confuse, befuddle, or bewilder.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Solar eclipses continued to mystify ancient humans for thousands of years."
"I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding."

Etymology

From French mystifier, from Ancient Greek μυστικός (mustikós, “secret, mystic”) + Latin -ficare.

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

mystifies (present, singular) mystifying (participle, present) mystified (participle, past) mystified (past)

Derived Forms

demystify remystify

Frequently Paired Words

mysterious mystery mystic mystical mysticism mystique

Synonyms

perplex vex stick get puzzle baffle beat pose bewilder flummox stupefy nonplus

Rhymes With

demystify

Questions

How do you pronounce mystify?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈmɪstɪfaɪ/.
What does mystify mean?: To thoroughly confuse, befuddle, or bewilder.
Where does mystify come from?: From French mystifier, from Ancient Greek μυστικός (mustikós, “secret, mystic”) + Latin -ficare.

How to pronounce mystify

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “mystify”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈmɪstɪfaɪ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “mystify”.
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