cryptic

Having hidden or obscure meaning.

In other words: enigmatic, obscure, veiled

• The poem's title is cryptic, hinting at a hidden meaning.

Hard to understand, interpret, or perceive.

In other words: puzzling, mysterious, obscure

• Her reply was cryptic, and no one knew what she meant.

Using a code or cipher.

In other words: coded, enciphered, ciphered

• The message was sent in cryptic form to avoid detection.

Relating to a crossword clue or puzzle that uses wordplay as well as a definition to indicate the answer.

In other words: wordplay-based, puzzling, deceptive

• I spent an hour on a cryptic clue before I saw the anagram.

Well camouflaged; difficult to see because it blends in with its surroundings.

In other words: camouflaged, concealed, hidden

• The insect was cryptic against the bark.

Providing camouflage.

In other words: camouflaging, concealing, disguising

• The moth's wings are cryptic, helping it avoid predators.

Apparently identical but genetically distinct.

In other words: sibling, look-alike, genetically distinct

• The two populations are cryptic species.

Living in a cavity or small cave.

In other words: cavernicolous, cave-dwelling, cryptozoic

A cryptic crossword puzzle.

In other words: cryptic crossword, crossword puzzle

• She does a cryptic every morning with her coffee.

An epoch from 4567 to 4150 million years ago, a subdivision of the Prenectarian.

In other words: Cryptic epoch

• The Cryptic marks an early stage in Earth's history.