adj

abstruse

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Abstruse (adj) means Hard to understand, especially because it deals with complicated ideas.

adj

Hard to understand, especially because it deals with complicated ideas.

"After the subject (victim, if you like) had read say thirty of the best solid novels of the twentieth century, I think I should draw him to the more abstruse modern novels and stories." — Walter Lionel George, A Novelist on Novels (1918)

(dated) Kept hidden or secret.

Easily confused with

obtuse →

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Etymology

PIE word *h₂epó Learned borrowing from Latin abstrūsus (“concealed, hidden; having been concealed”), an adjective use of the perfect passive participle of abstrūdō (“to conceal, hide; to push or thrust away”), from abs- (from ab- (prefix meaning ‘away; from; away from’)) + trūdō (“to push, shove; to thrust”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *trewd- (“to push; to thrust”)). Cognates * Catalan abstrús * German abstrus (“abstruse”) * Italian astruso (“abstruse”) * Middle French abstruse (modern French abstrus, abstruse (“(derogatory, literary) abstruse”) * Portuguese abstruso (“abstruse”) * Spanish abstruso (“abstruse”)

Synonyms

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recondite deep

Antonyms

lucid straightforward clear comprehensible obvious

Related words

top open light clear simple pass rule deep

Rhymes for abstruse

use muse ruse fuse abuse mouse cause house louse pause amuse douse

See all rhymes for abstruse →

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of abstruse?

"abstruse" (adj) means hard to understand, especially because it deals with complicated ideas.

What is another word for abstruse?

Other words for "abstruse" include recondite, deep.

What is the opposite of abstruse?

Opposites of "abstruse" include lucid, straightforward, clear, comprehensible, obvious.

What are the different meanings of abstruse?

"abstruse" has 2 main meanings: 1. Hard to understand, especially because it deals with complicated ideas; 2. (dated) Kept hidden or secret.

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