Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.

Inscrutable

Inexplicable

The most appropriate synonym of the given word inscrutable is inexplicable.

• Inscrutable means impossible to understand or interpret.
• Inexplicable means impossible to explain or account for.

The two words are similar in that they both suggest the idea of being unable to be understood or explained. However, the word inscrutable has a more specific meaning that is focused on being impossible to understand or interpret because it is hidden or obscure, while the word inexplicable has a more general meaning that is focused on being impossible to explain or account for because it is beyond understanding.

In the sentence "The inscrutable smile on the Mona Lisa's face," the speaker is not just saying that the smile is hard to understand, but that it is impossible to understand because it is hidden or obscure. Therefore, the word "inexplicable" is the most appropriate synonym for the word "inscrutable" in this context.

The other words on the list are not as appropriate synonyms for inscrutable. The word incredible means unbelievable or hard to believe. The word indelible means impossible to erase or remove. The word inevitable means certain to happen. These words do not convey the same sense of being impossible to understand or explain as the word inscrutable.