1
as in blunt
lacking sharpness of edge or point
obtuse scissors designed so that young users will not cut themselves
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obtuse
See the previous discussion of economists, and their horridly obtuse belief that war grows the economy.
—
John Tamny, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
The dismissals were compelled by twin obtuse opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in the Department of Justice issued in 1973 and 2000.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 4 Dec. 2024
But the Dunne character’s binary, psychologically obtuse way of talking about survivors of abuse, essentially arguing that minutely observing their behavior can help adjudicate the truth of their claims, isn’t limited to his perspective as one character.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024
For each subtle, smart decision in one regard, there’s a glaring, obtuse decision elsewhere, which ultimately makes an adaptation that should broaden Taddeo’s audience into a series that may only be fully appreciated by those who’ve also read the book.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for obtuse
John Tamny, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
The dismissals were compelled by twin obtuse opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in the Department of Justice issued in 1973 and 2000.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 4 Dec. 2024
But the Dunne character’s binary, psychologically obtuse way of talking about survivors of abuse, essentially arguing that minutely observing their behavior can help adjudicate the truth of their claims, isn’t limited to his perspective as one character.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024
For each subtle, smart decision in one regard, there’s a glaring, obtuse decision elsewhere, which ultimately makes an adaptation that should broaden Taddeo’s audience into a series that may only be fully appreciated by those who’ve also read the book.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for obtuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtuse
Adjective
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Honesty without emotional attunement can become a weapon in relationships, with truth being used as blunt force, not a bridge for connection.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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What to watch: In Europe and Canada — two of America's largest trading partners — officials have been blunt about the realities of a global system where the United States is less prominent.—
Axios,
Axios,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Amelia soon decides that stupid boys (and humans in general) aren't worth keeping around.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Sharing war plans outside U.S. government systems is the kind of offense that is almost too stupid to commit.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
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Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
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The building Celine now occupies what used to be a slow pop-up for Dior and Loro Piana.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Of the slow, unsexy work of loving someone even in the worst times.—
Ruhama Wolle,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That simplicity feels so apt for this show, There's enough here: The production is simple and sweet, while Jonas and Warren exude a certain magnetism.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Sam: Bruno Fernandes is the bogeyman, plain and simple.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Twangy bass lines thick enough to saw down a redwood tree are shredded with shivers of electric guitar to create a blues sound that cuts a hole straight through the decades.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
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This beautiful Easter garland, on sale for $79.99 at Wayfair, is opulent and thick with twigs and pastel eggs that run throughout.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Select plants with dense habits and thick cover to outcompete weeds that germinate in these border plantings.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
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Behind every large language model or real-time inference engine lies a dense web of data centers, chips, storage, and cooling infrastructure.—
Jemma Green,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Related Stories Whoever says this is unskilled work is either ignorant or lying.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Apr. 2025
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Beth and her husband Frank’s willfully ignorant marital bliss is upended when Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog that belongs to Gabriel, Beth’s teenage love.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obtuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtuse. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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