English vocabulary · C2
Gnomic
/ˈnoʊmɪk/ · adj.
Gnomic is when someone speaks in short, clever sentences that sound wise but hide the full meaning. You get a hint of truth, but you must think for yourself to fully understand it.
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Example sentences
- Her gnomic reply left everyone guessing.
- The old sign gave one gnomic warning.
Word origin and roots
from Greek
- gno — know (from Greek)
Synonyms and nuances
- CRYPTIC — hard to understand fully (Hard to Fully Understand)
- WISE — showing good judgment (Showing Deep Judgment)
- BRIEF — short and to the point (Short and Direct)
Words with the same root
gno — know
- diagnose — to find out what is wrong
- agnostic — someone who does not claim to know
- prognosis — a guess about what happens next
Lesson notes
Gnomic is when someone speaks in short, clever sentences that sound wise but hide the full meaning. You get a hint of truth, but you must think for yourself to fully understand it.
Related: cryptic, wise, brief. Use gnomic when short words hide a deeper truth.
Her gnomic reply left everyone guessing. The old sign gave one gnomic warning.
From Greek. Gno- means know. A short saying that hints at knowledge without saying it fully, that is gnomic.