Word
obtuse
Phoneticsob·tuse, stress on the second syllable
US/ɑbˈtus/
UK/ɒbtjˈuːs/
Definitions
01slow to understand
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. used to describe someone who is slow to understand something, or who is being deliberately difficult.
adj. lacking quickness of perception or intellect; characterized by a lack of sensitivity or insight.
Español:obtuso
“I am not trying to be obtuse, but I really do not understand your point.”
“The manager was being deliberately obtuse during the meeting, pretending not to follow the logic of the budget cuts to avoid taking responsibility.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02geometry
B1 · Intermediate Mathematics
adj. an angle that is more than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.
adj. denoting an angle between 90 and 180 degrees; not acute or right-angled.
Español:obtuso
“The roof of the house was built at an obtuse angle to help the snow slide off.”
“The architect utilised a series of obtuse angles in the building's footprint to maximise the available floor space on the irregular lot.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03blunt or rounded
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. having a blunt or rounded end rather than a sharp point.
adj. terminating in a rounded or blunt shape; not pointed or acute.
“The leaves of this plant are easy to identify because they have obtuse tips.”
“The specimen was distinguished by its obtuse leaf apex, a characteristic feature that separates it from other species in the same genus.”
04muffled sound
C2 · Proficiency Literary
adj. a sound that is not clear or sharp; a dull or quiet sound.
adj. referring to a sound that is deadened, muffled, or lacking in resonance.
“From behind the heavy curtains, we heard the obtuse thud of something falling.”
“The obtuse echoes of the city traffic were barely audible through the thick stone walls of the ancient monastery.”
Real-World Examples
“The puzzles can be obtuse, but thorough exploration often yields the answers you need: could you squeeze through that air duct?” “Completing a series of (often obtuse) puzzles in the resort opens the cracks of the reality you’re trapped in, showing a tantalising escape route.” Etymology
From Middle English obtuse, from Latin obtūsus (“blunt, dull; obtuse”), past participle of obtundere, from obtundō (“to batter, beat, strike; to blunt, dull”), from ob- (“against”) (see ob-) + tundō (“to beat, strike; to bruise, crush, pound”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewd-, from (s)tew- (“to hit; to push”)). More at obtund.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/obtuse
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0