1
: blocking the passage of radiant energy and especially light : exhibiting opacity (see opacity sense 1)
2
a
: hard to understand or explain
opaque prose
b
opaque
noun
opaquely
adverb
opaqueness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of opaque in a Sentence
In the opening hour, a group of strangers receive a maddeningly opaque cell-phone summons to join a secret cross-country race with a $32 million prize. The thing is, the summons can also be a threat (one competitor's wife is possibly being held captive), and the consequences of falling behind are murderous.
—
Tom Gliatto, People, 23 Apr. 2007
The reality facing Rory Stewart was that he was sent into a collapsed rural region in a country of which he knew almost nothing, and in which he had to find his way through a maze of opaque tribal and religious relationships.
—Robert Skidelsky, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006
Arborio rice, the kind that grows in the Po Valley and gave rise to the wonderful dish risotto, has a tiny opaque white pearl on the inside that remains al dente, and starch on the outside that the grains release during cooking, making a creamy sauce.
—Corby Kummer, Atlantic, March 1993
the opaque water of the muddy river
somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics
Tom Gliatto, People, 23 Apr. 2007
The reality facing Rory Stewart was that he was sent into a collapsed rural region in a country of which he knew almost nothing, and in which he had to find his way through a maze of opaque tribal and religious relationships.
—Robert Skidelsky, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006
Arborio rice, the kind that grows in the Po Valley and gave rise to the wonderful dish risotto, has a tiny opaque white pearl on the inside that remains al dente, and starch on the outside that the grains release during cooking, making a creamy sauce.
—Corby Kummer, Atlantic, March 1993
the opaque water of the muddy river
somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics
Recent Examples on the Web
The pants have flattering pleats and come in an opaque fabric to keep pesky lines from showing through.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025
But the program doesn't meet the demand that clearly exists for foreign talent, and the approval process is based on an opaque lottery system.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
Starkey’s Allerton is cut from the same opaque cloth as another young lover from this winter’s film season: Harris Dickinson as Samuel in Halina Reijn’s Babygirl.
—Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 10 Jan. 2025
Gorsuch questions whether ‘covert’ elements of China influence are overblown
Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned whether these concerns applied uniquely to TikTok, noting that all social media platforms engage in opaque editorial decisions.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for opaque 
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Nicol Natale, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025
But the program doesn't meet the demand that clearly exists for foreign talent, and the approval process is based on an opaque lottery system.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
Starkey’s Allerton is cut from the same opaque cloth as another young lover from this winter’s film season: Harris Dickinson as Samuel in Halina Reijn’s Babygirl.
—Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 10 Jan. 2025
Gorsuch questions whether ‘covert’ elements of China influence are overblown
Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned whether these concerns applied uniquely to TikTok, noting that all social media platforms engage in opaque editorial decisions.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for opaque
Dictionary Entries Near opaque
Cite this Entry
“Opaque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opaque. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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