1
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the 16th-century astrologer's predictions are so filled with obscurity that people can interpret them any way they want
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in oblivion
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown
the singer languished in relative obscurity for years before becoming famous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mysteriousness
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain
her novels were favored by gullible critics who confuse obscurity with profundity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of obscurity
With no tour or film on the horizon, the show was doomed to obscurity.
—
Joshua Barone, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Nvidia has seen some of the largest gains, rising from relative obscurity to briefly become the most valuable company in the world.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
Instead, the accomplishment faded into obscurity, unrecorded in our collective national memory.
—Cassidy Randall, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
Now we’re stuck with Healey, who is taking Warren’s route into obscurity, while we’re stuck with a $62 billion fiscal year 2026 budget proposal that needs a backup plan if federal dollars dry up.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Joshua Barone, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Nvidia has seen some of the largest gains, rising from relative obscurity to briefly become the most valuable company in the world.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
Instead, the accomplishment faded into obscurity, unrecorded in our collective national memory.
—Cassidy Randall, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
Now we’re stuck with Healey, who is taking Warren’s route into obscurity, while we’re stuck with a $62 billion fiscal year 2026 budget proposal that needs a backup plan if federal dollars dry up.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscurity
Noun
-
Be sure to make these documents easy to access and refer to for reference, which will reduce ambiguity and misinterpretations.—
Liz Guthridge,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
This spring, the London theatre shimmers with this kind of ambiguity—real king, false king, portrait, mirror.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The national championship follows those back-to-back titles but — unlike those — was dragged out of oblivion.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Such a narrow escape from oblivion would have shocked his fellow-Romans.—
Daniel Mendelsohn,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
So witnessing my own professional society choose silence in this moment hit differently.—
Angel Algarin,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2025
-
No person or public official should be targeted because of their faith, and no community should wonder whether such acts will be met with silence.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The scientists, who were not authorized to speak publicly, spoke on the condition of anonymity.—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Genetic testing has increased, anonymity is gone and caps on the number of families that can use one donor’s gametes are common.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscurity. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share