adj
obtuse
uhb-TYOOS
Obtuse (adj) means Slow to understand or notice things that seem obvious to others. Example: “He was being deliberately obtuse, pretending not to see the point.”
adj
1
Slow to understand or notice things that seem obvious to others.
"He was being deliberately obtuse, pretending not to see the point."
2
Of an angle: greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.
"The roof formed an obtuse angle where the two slopes met."
3
Blunt or rounded rather than sharp or pointed.
"The leaf has an obtuse tip rather than a pointed one."
How to use obtuse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither mentally slow to catch on, or (in geometry/shape) blunt rather than sharp.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "abstruse" (hard to understand) — "obtuse" describes a person's dullness, "abstruse" describes difficult subject matter.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
obtuse angle
wilfully obtuse
obtuse remark
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- obtuses
- Past tense
- obtused
- Comparative
- obtuser, more obtuse
- Superlative
- obtusest, most obtuse
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was being deliberately _____, pretending not to see the point.
Etymology
From Latin obtusus, "blunt, dull", past participle of obtundere, "to beat against, blunt" — from ob- plus tundere, "to strike".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for obtuse
See all rhymes for obtuse →Frequently asked questions
What does “obtuse” mean?
The word “obtuse” means slow to understand or notice things that seem obvious to others. In plain terms, either mentally slow to catch on, or (in geometry/shape) blunt rather than sharp.
How do you pronounce “obtuse”?
“Obtuse” is pronounced uhb-TYOOS (/əbˈt(j)us/ in IPA).
How do you use “obtuse” in a sentence?
Here is “obtuse” used in a sentence: “He was being deliberately obtuse, pretending not to see the point.”
What is another word for “obtuse”?
Words with a similar meaning to “obtuse” include obtuse-angled, blunt and dull.
What is the opposite of “obtuse”?
The opposite of “obtuse” — its antonyms — are bright, intelligent, on the ball, quick off the mark and quick-witted.
What part of speech is “obtuse”?
“Obtuse” is an adjective.
Where does the word “obtuse” come from?
The word “obtuse” comes from Latin. From Latin obtusus, "blunt, dull", past participle of obtundere, "to beat against, blunt" — from ob- plus tundere, "to strike".
How many meanings does “obtuse” have?
“Obtuse” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: slow to understand or notice things that seem obvious to others.
