# abstruse

/əbˈstɹus/ (US) · /ɐbstɹˈuːs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abstruse
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

difficult to understand because the subject is very deep or complicated. You use this for ideas or writing that require a lot of effort to figure out.

For teachers: difficult to understand; obscure. Adjective, typically used of intellectual or academic subjects that are unnecessarily complex or recondite.

## Examples

- The professor's lecture is too abstruse for me.
- Few students managed to follow the abstruse philosophical arguments presented in the final chapter of the textbook.
- The philosopher’s writing is often criticized for being intentionally abstruse, hiding simple concepts behind layers of technical jargon that serves only to alienate the general public.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.