obtuse

adjective

ob·​tuse äb-ˈtüs How to pronounce obtuse (audio)
əb-,
-ˈtyüs
obtuser; obtusest
1
a
: not pointed or acute : blunt
b(1)
of an angle : exceeding 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees
(2)
: having an obtuse angle
an obtuse triangle
see triangle illustration
c
of a leaf : rounded at the free end
2
a
: lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect : insensitive, stupid
He is too obtuse to take a hint.
b
: difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression
It is also, unfortunately, ill-written, and at times obtuse and often trivial.Shirley Hazzard
obtusely adverb
obtuseness noun

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Obtuse vs. Abstruse

Obtuse comes from a Latin word meaning "dull" or "blunt." It can describe a geometric angle that is not acute or a person who is mentally "dull." In addition, obtuse can mean "hard to comprehend." That meaning is probably from confusion with the similar-sounding abstruse.

Choose the Right Synonym for obtuse

dull, blunt, obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute.

dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency.

a dull pain
a dull mind

blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception.

a person of blunt sensibility

obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination.

too obtuse to take the hint

Examples of obtuse in a Sentence

Murdoch's art, like all good art, is highly structured and controlled—a house neat and clean enough to satisfy the most morally obtuse of her upper-class British characters. Martha C. Nussbaum, New Republic, 31 Dec. 2001 & 7 Jan. 2002
Only the most obtuse missed the main message: humans risked so distorting the natural order that they were sentencing themselves to be destroyed by frost or furnace. Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000
In fact, he was too obtuse even to realize that his assignment to Tejas was a demotion … James A. Michener, Texas, 1985
… either he, and the other people in his shop, and two people I subsequently ask are incapable of giving directions, or I am too rattled and obtuse to follow them, but I cannot find the police station. Renata Adler, Pitch Dark, 1983
He is too obtuse to take a hint. obtuse scissors designed so that young users will not cut themselves
Recent Examples on the Web The film is bursting with brilliant performances, but the two who earned the most awards buzz were Keoghan’s slippery central live-wire act and Rosamund Pike's delightfully obtuse, narcissistic Catton matriarch, Elspeth. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 4 Mar. 2024 Which means oh-so-eminent economist Lawrence Summers will forever be associated with the horrifyingly obtuse view that human beings with wives, husbands and kids must be put out of work by the very governments that are always and everywhere the source of inflation. John Tamny, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Then, in 2008, Richard Schwartz at Brown University showed that all obtuse triangles with angles of 100 degrees or less contain a periodic trajectory. Quanta Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 Initially, Kevin is earnest and amusingly obtuse while botching take after take of a pre-fight promo and fumbling through a date with his soon-to-be wife (Lily James, charmingly plucky). Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2023 Israelis are divided about how to respond to the government's obtuse lack of compassion and inadequacy. TIME, 12 Oct. 2023 Like Brooke, Garner has an ear for the voice of mass condemnation—man-on-the-street hot takes, steaming with obtuse inference; gloating, fear, pride. Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023 Advertisement Issues: Anger, anxiety, insomnia Root cause: Rachel is abruptly touched by an obtuse ob-gyn at the hospital shortly before the birth of her first child. Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2023 These are sprawling multi-part prog-jam-jazz-world music suites full of obtuse lyrics about flaming angels and hopes of paradise. Jeff Weiss, Spin, 21 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obtuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin obtusus blunt, dull, from past participle of obtundere to beat against, blunt, from ob- against + tundere to beat — more at ob-, contusion

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of obtuse was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near obtuse

Cite this Entry

“Obtuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obtuse. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

obtuse

adjective
ob·​tuse äb-ˈt(y)üs How to pronounce obtuse (audio)
obtuser; obtusest
1
: not pointed or sharp : blunt
2
a
: being between 90° and 180°
an obtuse angle
b
: having an obtuse angle
an obtuse triangle
3
: not quick or keen of understanding or feeling
obtuseness noun

Medical Definition

obtuse

adjective
ob·​tuse äb-ˈt(y)üs, əb- How to pronounce obtuse (audio)
obtuser; obtusest
1
: lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect
2
: not pointed or acute
obtuse pain

More from Merriam-Webster on obtuse

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