First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
obtuse
adjective ob·tuse \äb-ˈtüs, əb-, -ˈtyüs\
: stupid or unintelligent : not able to think clearly or to understand what is obvious or simple
mathematics : not ending in a sharp point : measuring between 90 degrees and 180 degrees
ob·tus·erob·tus·est
Full Definition of OBTUSE
1
a : not pointed or acute : blunt 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 b : difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression
— ob·tuse·ly adverb
— ob·tuse·ness noun
See obtuse defined for English-language learners
See obtuse defined for kids
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Examples of OBTUSE
- 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
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Origin of OBTUSE
Related to OBTUSE
Synonym Discussion of OBTUSE
dull, blunt, obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute. dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency <a dull pain> <a dull mind>. blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception <a person of blunt sensibility>. obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination <too obtuse to take the hint>.
Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms
Rhymes with OBTUSE
Aarhus, abstruse, abuse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, conduce, couscous, cut loose, deduce, diffuse, disuse, educe, effuse, excuse, fair use, footloose, hang loose, induce, Lanús, misuse, mongoose, Morpheus, negus, Orpheus, papoose, Peleus, Perseus, prepuce, produce, profuse, Proteus, Purus, recluse, red spruce, reduce, refuse, retuse, reuse, Sanctus, seduce, slip noose, snow goose, Tereus, Theseus, traduce, transduce, turn loose, unloose, vamoose
OBTUSER Defined for Kids
obtuse
adjective ob·tuse \äb-ˈtüs, -ˈtyüs\
Definition of OBTUSE for Kids
1
: measuring more than a right angle
2
: not able to understand something obvious
Medical Dictionary
obtuse
adjective ob·tuse \äb-ˈt(y)üs, əb-\
ob·tus·erob·tus·est
Medical Definition of OBTUSE
1
: lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect
2
: not pointed or acute <obtuse pain>
Learn More About OBTUSE
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