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
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
The Naturally reissue will be released as a standard black vinyl as well as two variants: An indie retail exclusive on opaque orange color vinyl and the Daptone shop exclusive on clear vinyl with orange splatter.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2025
In an industry as opaque as art, where dealers are rarely forthright about their businesses, the most reliable economic data can sometimes be the party budgets.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
The measure, known as an assessment, offered a rare look into the program’s relatively opaque financials.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025
The honey-like liquid rapidly transforms into a solid, opaque material that acts as a plug.
—Erin Brodwin, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opaque
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.
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2025
In an industry as opaque as art, where dealers are rarely forthright about their businesses, the most reliable economic data can sometimes be the party budgets.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
The measure, known as an assessment, offered a rare look into the program’s relatively opaque financials.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025
The honey-like liquid rapidly transforms into a solid, opaque material that acts as a plug.
—Erin Brodwin, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opaque
Cite this Entry
“Opaque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opaque. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share