obtuse

[ uhb-toos, -tyoos ]

/ əbˈtus, -ˈtyus /

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

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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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of obtuse

First recorded in 1500–10; from 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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obtuse

abstruse, obtuse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use obtuse in a sentence

Japanese geishas and Arab sheiks are also obtusely name-checked.
GM Is Racist, Pepsi Is Sexist & More in the Week in Offensive Ads (Video)|Kevin Fallon|May 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But that's just being wrong about something, maybe even obtusely so, but it isn't lying.
Truce! And More on Race|Michael Tomasky|August 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The city marshal obtusely didn't look inside the door for visual evidences of any trouble within; he would listen to no reason.
Back Home|Irvin S. Cobb
When do women want the bulky, solid reasons obtusely demanded by men before they can be enemies?
The Woman With The Fan|Robert Hichens

Branches obtusely 4-sided, hairy; flowers pale lilac, in interrupted panicles, agreeably sweet-scented in late summer.
Trees of the Northern United States|Austin C. Apgar
The neck and legs are short; the ears are likewise short, obtusely pointed, and lie close to the head.
Oregon and Eldorado|Thomas Bulfinch
Achene obtusely triangular, partly 3-celled, enclosed in the indurated calyx.
The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States|Asa Gray

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

obtuse

OTHER WORDS FOR obtuse

Origin of obtuse

OTHER WORDS FROM obtuse

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH 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