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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective obtuse differ from other similar words?

The words blunt and dull are common synonyms of obtuse. While all three words mean "not sharp, keen, or acute," obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination.

too obtuse to take the hint

When might blunt be a better fit than obtuse?

The synonyms blunt and obtuse are sometimes interchangeable, but blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception.

a person of blunt sensibility

When is it sensible to use dull instead of obtuse?

The words dull and obtuse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency.

a dull pain
a dull mind

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 obtuse There would be no obtuse angles; the idea was to maintain a feeling of innocence, like that of a child opening a toy for the first time. Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025 The Monkey is a source of constant obtuse dialogue and characters that exist only for the cheapest comic relief. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for obtuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtuse
Adjective
  • Autopsy results revealed that Morin had endured 15 to 20 blows to the head and had died from a combination of strangulation and blunt force trauma.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Not to be blunt, but there’s really no good excuse to skip SPF application, regardless of your skin tone or skin type.
    Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Friendships built on insecurity, where men constantly have to prove their manhood, are a breeding ground for toxic attitudes and stupid decision-making.
    Terry Ward, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
  • That was the result of a stupid Obama-era rule that claimed a benefit to climate change (the biggest scam ever perpetrated on humanity) by restricting water flow through shower heads and faucets.
    Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.
    Daniel Jackson, Allure, 18 July 2017
  • Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.
    Andy Benoit, The MMQB, 10 July 2017
Adjective
  • Samsung is neck and neck with Google, but its updates are often slower and more limited on older phones.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The slowest builder finished before the one who overslept.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The simplest way, Studholme suggests, is to use one group of neutrals or a tone on tone graduation of the same color, such as Pigeon, Blue Gray, Muzzle and Cromarty from Farrow & Ball, for example.
    Ariel Okin, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Asked who’d buy these gold cards during an Oval Office meeting with reporters in February, Trump had a simple answer.
    Meehika Barua, HubSpot, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • These Steve Madden platform sneakers feature thick, cushioned soles that provide extra height without sacrificing comfort.
    Jené Luciani Sena, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The moment a Delta Air Lines plane burst into flames on the tarmac of Orlando International Airport on Monday was captured on video, showing the emergency evacuation of passengers and crew as thick smoke billowed from one of its engines.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This layer also contains Earth’s oceanic crust — a thinner and denser layer below the oceans — and the continental crust that sits above this layer.
    Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The good news As solar cycle 25 is set to weaken soon, the high-energy proton soup around the planet will soon get denser again.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But Slingshot’s breach of contract suit alleges that Angel continually broke provisions of their agreement, and sometimes seemed entirely ignorant of them.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Naturally, this poor woman is ignorant of her friend Susan’s role in her granddaughter’s disappearance.
    Chris Klimek, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Obtuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtuse. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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