# abstruseness

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abstruseness
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the quality of being very difficult to understand or too complicated for most people. It describes ideas or writing that are so obscure they feel like a secret language.

For teachers: the quality of being obscure, difficult to understand, or intentionally vague. Often used to describe complex philosophical or mathematical concepts that lack clarity for the general public.

## Examples

- The professor's lecture was full of abstruseness.
- The legal document was so full of abstruseness that even the lawyers struggled to find a clear path forward.
- While the author's prose was praised for its poetic beauty, many critics argued that the abstruseness of the metaphors made the central themes nearly impossible to grasp for a modern audience.

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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.