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
opaque noun
opaquely adverb
opaqueness noun

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
Recent Examples on the Web In a sea of sheer nude-pinks, go fully pastel with this opaque baby pink that offers slightly more color payoff and pop. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024 More than 100 top artificial intelligence researchers have signed an open letter calling on generative AI companies to allow investigators access to their systems, arguing that opaque company rules are preventing them from safety-testing tools being used by millions of consumers. Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 But as the data streams became more complex and analyzing the output into intelligence became increasingly opaque, systems failure was the norm—all while the investments required to maintain systems that were developed or purchased were considered a significant financial burden. Jay Hakami, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Even more, as trust and consensus erodes between consumers and food service over what constitutes a fair price of a meal, this opaque experiment feels especially distressing, for both customers and employees. Antara Sinha, Bon Appétit, 1 Mar. 2024 The stone comes in two forms: transparent or opaque. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 The opaque title shaded the fact that Mr. Kirby, who had impressed Mr. Biden during the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, would share some duties with Ms. Jean-Pierre, like briefing reporters on foreign affairs. Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Council members have offered media interviews, decrying the DOJ's practices as unfair and opaque, while boasting of the Phoenix police's history of proactive self-correction. Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 31 Jan. 2024 The front windows are opaque, but the counter inside is warmly lit. Michael McGough, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opaque.' 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

Latin opacus — see opacity

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of opaque was in 1641

Dictionary Entries Near opaque

Cite this Entry

“Opaque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opaque. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

opaque

adjective
1
: not letting light through : not transparent
2
: hard to understand
3
: dull of mind : stupid
opaquely adverb
opaqueness noun

Medical Definition

opaque

adjective
: exhibiting opacity : not pervious to radiant energy
opaqueness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on opaque

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