abstruse

[ab-stroos]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR abstruse ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

hard to understand; recondite; esoteric: abstruse theories.

Obsolete. secret; hidden.

Origin of abstruse

1590–1600; < Latin abstrūsus thrust away, concealed (past participle of abstrūdere), equivalent to abs- abs- + trūd- thrust + -tus past participle suffix

Related formsab·struse·ly, adverbab·struse·ness, noun

Can be confusedabstruse obtuse

Synonyms for abstruse

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR abstruse ON THESAURUS.COM

1. incomprehensible, unfathomable, arcane.

Antonyms for abstruse

1. clear, uncomplicated, simple; obvious.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for abstruse

perplexing, esoteric, abstract, complex, complicated, deep, enigmatic, heavy, hidden, incomprehensible, intricate, involved, muddy, obscure, profound, puzzling, recondite, subtle, unfathomable, vague

Examples from the Web for abstruse

Contemporary Examples of abstruse

More interesting than these abstruse ruminations were her political instincts at the conclusion of the formal broadcast.
Republicans Show Strong Political Instincts
Michael Medved
June 14, 2011

Historical Examples of abstruse

Ordinary people may fear there is some abstruse science about this.
Albert Durer
T. Sturge Moore
This abstruse notion is the foundation of the Hegelian logic.
Parmenides
Plato
With scholars and philosophers they held their own in abstruse and abstract discussions.
An American Suffragette
Isaac N. Stevens
And she, following, applied herself to the most abstruse of Art-studies.
Olive
Dinah Maria Craik, (AKA Dinah Maria Mulock)
An abstruse, ancient classic, usually called the Book of Changes.
The Sayings Of Confucius
Confucius

British Dictionary definitions for abstruse

abstruse

adjective

not easy to understand; recondite; esoteric

Derived Formsabstrusely, adverbabstruseness, noun

Word Origin for abstruse

C16: from Latin abstrūsus thrust away, concealed, from abs- ab- 1 + trūdere to thrust

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for abstruse

adj.

1590s, from Middle French abstrus (16c.) or directly from Latin abstrusus "hidden, concealed, secret," past participle of abstrudere "conceal," literally "to thrust away," from ab- "away" (see ab-) + trudere "to thrust, push" (see extrusion). Related: Abstrusely; abstruseness.