obtuser; obtusest
1
b(1)
of an angle
: exceeding 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees
(2)
: having an obtuse angle
an obtuse triangle
see triangle illustration
c
of a leaf
: rounded at the free end
2
a
: lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect : insensitive, stupid
He is too obtuse to take a hint.
b
: difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression
It is also, unfortunately, ill-written, and at times obtuse and often trivial.—
Shirley Hazzard
Shirley Hazzard
obtusely
adverb
obtuseness
noun
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Examples of obtuse in a Sentence
Murdoch's art, like all good art, is highly structured and controlled—a house neat and clean enough to satisfy the most morally obtuse of her upper-class British characters.
—Martha C. Nussbaum, New Republic, 31 Dec. 2001 & 7 Jan. 2002
Only the most obtuse missed the main message: humans risked so distorting the natural order that they were sentencing themselves to be destroyed by frost or furnace.
—Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000
In fact, he was too obtuse even to realize that his assignment to Tejas was a demotion …
—James A. Michener, Texas, 1985
… either he, and the other people in his shop, and two people I subsequently ask are incapable of giving directions, or I am too rattled and obtuse to follow them, but I cannot find the police station.
—Renata Adler, Pitch Dark, 1983
He is too obtuse to take a hint.
obtuse scissors designed so that young users will not cut themselves
Martha C. Nussbaum, New Republic, 31 Dec. 2001 & 7 Jan. 2002
Only the most obtuse missed the main message: humans risked so distorting the natural order that they were sentencing themselves to be destroyed by frost or furnace.
—Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000
In fact, he was too obtuse even to realize that his assignment to Tejas was a demotion …
—James A. Michener, Texas, 1985
… either he, and the other people in his shop, and two people I subsequently ask are incapable of giving directions, or I am too rattled and obtuse to follow them, but I cannot find the police station.
—Renata Adler, Pitch Dark, 1983
He is too obtuse to take a hint.
obtuse scissors designed so that young users will not cut themselves
Recent Examples on the Web
For each subtle, smart decision in one regard, there’s a glaring, obtuse decision elsewhere, which ultimately makes an adaptation that should broaden Taddeo’s audience into a series that may only be fully appreciated by those who’ve also read the book.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2024
And what determines what is complicated with such an obtuse law?
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
Not an obtuse reference, but a keen one, to the 1977 Bollywood film Amar Akbar Anthony, about three Indian brothers separated at birth and raised in different religious communities.
—Mallika Rao, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024
The film is bursting with brilliant performances, but the two who earned the most awards buzz were Keoghan’s slippery central live-wire act and Rosamund Pike's delightfully obtuse, narcissistic Catton matriarch, Elspeth.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obtuse 
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2024
And what determines what is complicated with such an obtuse law?
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
Not an obtuse reference, but a keen one, to the 1977 Bollywood film Amar Akbar Anthony, about three Indian brothers separated at birth and raised in different religious communities.
—Mallika Rao, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024
The film is bursting with brilliant performances, but the two who earned the most awards buzz were Keoghan’s slippery central live-wire act and Rosamund Pike's delightfully obtuse, narcissistic Catton matriarch, Elspeth.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obtuse
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obtuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near obtuse
Cite this Entry
“Obtuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obtuse. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obtuse
adjective
ob·tuse
äb-ˈt(y)üs 
obtuser; obtusest
1
: not pointed or sharp : blunt
2
a
: being between 90° and 180°
an obtuse angle
b
: having an obtuse angle
an obtuse triangle
3
: not quick or keen of understanding or feeling
obtuseness
noun
Medical Definition
obtuse
adjective
ob·tuse
äb-ˈt(y)üs, əb-
obtuser; obtusest
1
: lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect
2
: not pointed or acute
obtuse pain
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