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esoteric

/ˌɛs.əʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/adjective

Meant for or understood by only a small circle of people who share special knowledge or interests.

Example sentences

  • “The lecture was too esoteric for anyone outside the physics department.”
  • “He collects esoteric books on medieval alchemy.”

Neutral to faintly critical: esoteric interests are respectably obscure, but esoteric jargon shuts readers out. The opposite, 'exoteric', is rare.

Synonyms for esoteric

Antonyms

  • mainstream
  • accessible

Often confused with esoteric

esoteric vs exotic
exotic (adjective): Coming from a distant foreign place and therefore seeming unusual and exciting.

Find it in: Advanced English words.

Related words

eruditeHaving or showing deep knowledge gained from a lot of reading and study.espouseTo support a belief, cause, or way of life and speak publicly in favor of it.eradicateTo destroy or get rid of something completely, such as a disease or a social problem.equivocalUnclear or able to be understood in more than one way, often on purpose.etherealBelonging to the sky or a realm beyond the earth; light, delicate, and seemingly not of this world.equanimityCalmness and evenness of mind, especially when under pressure.