obtuse

[ uhb-toos, -tyoos ]

/ əbˈtus, -ˈtyus /

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See synonyms for: obtuse / obtusely / obtuseness on Thesaurus.com

Definition of obtuse

adjective

not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull.

not sharp, acute, or pointed; blunt in form.

(of a leaf, petal, etc.) rounded at the extremity.

indistinctly felt or perceived, as pain or sound.

OTHER WORDS FOR obtuse

1 unfeeling, tactless, insensitive; blind, imperceptive, unobservant; gauche, boorish; slow, dim.

See synonyms for obtuse on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of obtuse

1500–10; <Latin obtūsus dulled (past participle of obtundere), equivalent to ob-ob- + tūd-, variant stem of tundere to beat + -tus past participle suffix, with dt>s

OTHER WORDS FROM obtuse

ob·tuse·ly, adverbob·tuse·ness, nounsub·ob·tuse, adjectivesub·ob·tuse·ly, adverb

sub·ob·tuse·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obtuse

abstruse, obtuse

Words nearby obtuse

obturator crest, obturator foramen, obturator hernia, obturator nerve, obturator vein, obtuse, obtuse angle, obtuse triangle, obtusion, Obuda, OBulg.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use obtuse in a sentence

One that represented what the Games are supposed to be about and validated my foolish decision to spend every hour outside of work watching the often obtuse and ignorant coverage of events.
The 2021 Olympics Are an Inspiring, Infuriating Shitshow|Kevin Fallon|July 30, 2021|The Daily Beast
Devi’s relationship with Ben encourages her to extend empathy toward those she has written off, while Paxton’s often obtuse behavior teaches her to stand up for what she deserves.
The teen love triangle is a complicated TV tradition. ‘Never Have I Ever’ actually pulls it off.|Sonia Rao|July 22, 2021|Washington Post
The iPhone makes these notices prominent, if the language is a little obtuse.
Apple’s AirTag trackers made it frighteningly easy to ‘stalk’ me in a test|Geoffrey Fowler|May 6, 2021|Washington Post
Or at least not obtuse about The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.
How to Get Laid in Brooklyn a la Adelle Waldman’s Nifty Novel of Manners|Tom LeClair|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Bennett has a point, but, in a perilously obtuse way, he's also missing the point.
Israel's Latest Prisoner Release is an Unconvincing Goodwill Gesture|Matt Lerner|October 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Stupples plays Pete as an absurdly obtuse man-child who reads as David Brent without the mean streak.
‘Family Tree’ Brings Christopher Guest’s Mockumentary Style to HBO|Jace Lacob|May 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
That fact makes it shockingly obtuse of Hyundai to make mockery of the act in an ad for its new ix35.
GM Is Racist, Pepsi Is Sexist & More in the Week in Offensive Ads (Video)|Kevin Fallon|May 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"He is not entirely obtuse about what the relationship really is," Miller said.
My Dinner With Ahmadinejad|Stephen Kinzer|September 23, 2010|DAILY BEAST
No trail was so obtuse, no thicket so dense that members of that regiment would not track them to their lair.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Either Mrs. Morgan was obtuse or ignorant, for she gave no response for some time to Mary's stream of words.
The Life of Thomas Wanless, Peasant|Alexander Johnstone Wilson
Much as Jethro had blundered, and obtuse as he was in many things, he understood what had taken place.
The Phantom of the River|Edward S. Ellis
The second Swastika has its ends bent at an obtuse angle to the left, and at the extremities the lines taper to a point.
The Swastika|Thomas Wilson
Directly across from them at a table which formed a wide obtuse angle with theirs were four girls.
Marjorie Dean College Freshman|Pauline Lester

British Dictionary definitions for obtuse

obtuse

/ (əbˈtjuːs) /

adjective

mentally slow or emotionally insensitive

maths

(of an angle) lying between 90° and 180°
(of a triangle) having one interior angle greater than 90°

not sharp or pointed

indistinctly felt, heard, etc; dullobtuse pain

(of a leaf or similar flat part) having a rounded or blunt tip

Derived forms of obtuse

obtusely, adverbobtuseness, noun

Word Origin for obtuse

C16: from Latin obtūsus dulled, past participle of obtundere to beat down; see obtund

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

Medical definitions for obtuse

obtuse

[ ŏb-tōōs′, əb- ]

adj.

Lacking quickness of perception or intellect.

Not sharp or acute; blunt.

obtuse

Definition of obtuse

OTHER WORDS FOR obtuse

Origin of obtuse

OTHER WORDS FROM obtuse

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obtuse

Words nearby obtuse

Words related to obtuse

How to use obtuse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obtuse

Derived forms of obtuse

Word Origin for obtuse

Medical definitions for obtuse