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
b
opaque
noun
opaquely
adverb
opaqueness
noun
Synonyms
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
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
Additionally, in the 1960s, anyone donning the mod aesthetic (perhaps, most famously, Twiggy) was no stranger to a mini dress with bright opaque tights.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024
The thick, vivid opaque pigments are packed into rectangles for easy, mess-free portability.
—Alexandra Folino, Glamour, 12 Dec. 2024
Delays, opaque fees, poor communication, and high barriers to access can all erode trust in cross-border payments.
—Dean Debiase, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Social media platforms are modern-day radio and TV stations, but instead of producers, opaque algorithms select the content shown to users.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for opaque 
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Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024
The thick, vivid opaque pigments are packed into rectangles for easy, mess-free portability.
—Alexandra Folino, Glamour, 12 Dec. 2024
Delays, opaque fees, poor communication, and high barriers to access can all erode trust in cross-border payments.
—Dean Debiase, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Social media platforms are modern-day radio and TV stations, but instead of producers, opaque algorithms select the content shown to users.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for opaque
Dictionary Entries Near opaque
Cite this Entry
“Opaque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opaque. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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