Obtuse Definition & Meaning

obtuse
adjective
  1. of an angle; between 90 and 180 degrees
  2. (of a leaf shape) rounded at the apex
  3. lacking in insight or discernment; "too obtuse to grasp the implications of his behavior"; "a purblind oligarchy that flatly refused to see that history was condemning it to the dustbin"- Jasper Griffin
  4. slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; "so dense he never understands anything I say to him"; "never met anyone quite so dim"; "although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick"- Thackeray; "dumb officials make some really dumb decisions"; "he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse"; "worked with the slow students"

Synonyms for obtuse

dense adj

permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter; "dense smoke"; "heavy fog

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
dim adj

lacking in light; not bright or harsh; "a dim light beside the bed

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dull adj

lacking in liveliness or animation; "he was so dull at parties"; "a dull political campaign

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
dumb adj

slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; "so dense he never understands anything I say to him

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
purblind adj

having greatly reduced vision lacking in insight or discernment; "too obtuse to grasp the implications of his behavior

♫ Rhymes
simple adj

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved; "a simple problem"; "simple mechanisms"; "a simple design

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slow adv

without speed (`slow' is sometimes used informally for `slowly'); "he spoke slowly

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stupid adj

lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Obtuse" in song lyrics

See how obtuse is used in real songs:

  • "Because the angle is obtuse"
    Buckshot Lefonque f/ 50 Styles: The Unknown Soldier — Music Evolution
  • "Acute angles become, obtuse"
    Chubb Rock — The Mind
  • "He finally flew off the three train and became shy and obtuse"
    Jesse Abraham — Get to Know Me

Words that rhyme with obtuse

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Usage tips for "obtuse"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "obtuse" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for obtuse to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with obtuse ↔ Synonyms for obtuse 🔬 Words containing obtuse

Frequently asked questions

What does obtuse mean?
of an angle; between 90 and 180 degrees (of a leaf shape) rounded at the apex lacking in insight or discernment; "too obtuse to grasp the implications of his behavior"; "a purblind oligarchy that flatly refused to see that history was condemning it to the dustbin"- Jasper Griffin slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; "so dense he never understands anything I say to him"; "never met anyone quite so dim
What part of speech is obtuse?
Obtuse is an adjective.
How many definitions does obtuse have?
Obtuse has 4 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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