# obtuse

/ɑbˈtus/ (US) · /ɒbtjˈuːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/obtuse
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. slow to understand

adjective · CEFR B2

used to describe someone who is slow to understand something, or who is being deliberately difficult.

For teachers: lacking quickness of perception or intellect; characterized by a lack of sensitivity or insight.

- 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.

### 2. geometry

adjective · CEFR B1

an angle that is more than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.

For teachers: denoting an angle between 90 and 180 degrees; not acute or right-angled.

- 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.

### 3. blunt or rounded

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having a blunt or rounded end rather than a sharp point.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. muffled sound

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

a sound that is not clear or sharp; a dull or quiet sound.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Stop being obtuse and just answer the question.
- The manager was being intentionally obtuse during the meeting to avoid discussing the budget cuts.
- While the instructions were admittedly dense, his colleagues suspected he was being deliberately obtuse to delay the project's implementation.

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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.