1
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the 16th-century astrologer's predictions are so filled with obscurity that people can interpret them any way they want
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in oblivion
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown
the singer languished in relative obscurity for years before becoming famous
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mysteriousness
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain
her novels were favored by gullible critics who confuse obscurity with profundity
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscurity
The president’s deep skepticism prompted him to pass over the more obvious choices to replace General Brown and to pluck General Caine from relative obscurity.
—
Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Many films have languished in undue obscurity because of obtuse reviews when they were first screened.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2025
The music for Italian comedies, meanwhile, largely continues to languish in obscurity — at least until now.
—Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 19 Feb. 2025
Williams has just been kicked out of boy band Take That and finds himself on the precipice of stardom or obscurity.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Many films have languished in undue obscurity because of obtuse reviews when they were first screened.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2025
The music for Italian comedies, meanwhile, largely continues to languish in obscurity — at least until now.
—Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 19 Feb. 2025
Williams has just been kicked out of boy band Take That and finds himself on the precipice of stardom or obscurity.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscurity
Noun
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This ambiguity will continue to stifle innovation and will leave banks uncertain about how to proceed, or whether they are permitted to proceed at all.—
Gene A. Grant II,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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A lot of them also indicate a psychotic break, introducing an element of ambiguity that’s true to life and also smart for an independent filmmaker without a huge budget for alien effects.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Her main goal: to rescue from oblivion all those women artists whose genius was erased by the relentless hand of patriarchy.—
The Glamour editors,
Glamour,
8 Mar. 2025
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Not every photo can be controlled — as Pennsylvania proves — but after several years of his image being meme-d to oblivion, the president is taking optics more seriously.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Beth Holloway broke her silence on the case in a statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
Fox News,
12 Mar. 2025
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The name itself embodies Marques’ mission — breaking the silence around Black entrepreneurship by bringing these innovators directly to Silicon Valley.—
Angelica Mari,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The official spoke on the condition of anonymity before an announcement.—
Collin Binkley and Chris Megerian,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2025
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However, since Trump took office on Jan. 20 much of the work has come to a standstill, according to eleven current and former officials, all of whom requested anonymity to discuss classified matters.—
Erin Banco and Mari Saito,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscurity. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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