1
as in blunt
lacking sharpness of edge or point
obtuse scissors designed so that young users will not cut themselves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stupid
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
forgive me for being obtuse, but I wish you'd explain that to me again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obtuse
Hence the obtuse rabbis, the cowering Uncle Yasha, and, in Aliyah of the 1990s, the naked Russian woman, presumably a prostitute, presenting herself doggy-style.
—
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2024
Monster Hunter Wilds, released in February of this year, is another example of a series that changed its arcade-y spirit for a more photo mode-worthy presentation, while streamlining the obtuse friction that the original games were known for.
—Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025
There would be no obtuse angles; the idea was to maintain a feeling of innocence, like that of a child opening a toy for the first time.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025
The Monkey is a source of constant obtuse dialogue and characters that exist only for the cheapest comic relief.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obtuse
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2024
Monster Hunter Wilds, released in February of this year, is another example of a series that changed its arcade-y spirit for a more photo mode-worthy presentation, while streamlining the obtuse friction that the original games were known for.
—Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025
There would be no obtuse angles; the idea was to maintain a feeling of innocence, like that of a child opening a toy for the first time.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025
The Monkey is a source of constant obtuse dialogue and characters that exist only for the cheapest comic relief.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obtuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtuse
Adjective
-
Her brand features blunt honesty and humor, as well as fashion, beauty, and lifestyle tips.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
-
City’s video tribute was a tear-jerker, and less hardy characters than De Bruyne — nicknamed ‘the tumble dryer’ due to his dry (and blunt) approach — would surely have cracked and let the tears roll.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Not just on the training pitch but in the dorm rooms, talking about the future and giggling at stupid jokes.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
-
President Donald Trump said only stupid people would refuse a $400 million gift.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
-
Life has likely felt a bit nebulous and slow for you in the past year, Cancer.—
Kyle Thomas,
People.com,
18 May 2025
-
Albon asked Williams for information on where Leclerc was likely slow at the restart, looking for a spot to capitalize.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
Trevon Williams, who did not escape from the New Orleans jail, was charged with 10 counts of being a principal to simple escape, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced on May 23.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
-
As artificial intelligence models grow increasingly sophisticated, their capabilities extend far beyond simple task execution.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Its thick plastic outer casing is impervious to flex.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2025
-
Conversely, smog, cloud cover, and thicker ozone layers limit the amount of UV radiation that reaches the skin.6 Locations further from the equator at higher altitudes experience less sunlight in the winter and more in the summer.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
Today’s top stories San Diego small plane crash A private jet flying in dense fog crashed into a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday morning, leaving a huge debris field.—
Hailey Branson-Potts,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
-
However, researchers observed that after being dispersed by the radiation, the clouds were not dense or large enough to create new stars.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has no knowledge of military history and has surrounded himself with advisers equally ignorant.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
16 May 2025
-
Anger materializes in people who are toxic and ignorant.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obtuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtuse. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share