as in esoteric
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand
you're not the only one who finds Einstein's theory of relativity abstruse
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Recent Examples of abstruse
But the turn feels less absurd than abstruse, sudden even, given the film’s prior resistance to laugh at itself.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
Kamala Harris’ penchant for strings of abstruse verbiage — popularly known as word salads — was one of several reasons her presidential campaign failed last year.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2025
Also, his estimate arose from abstruse economic formulas and lots of magic asterisks.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Into Breaking Its Own Rules To emphasize the importance of math, Winkler displayed a handful of abstruse equations.
—Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstruse
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
Kamala Harris’ penchant for strings of abstruse verbiage — popularly known as word salads — was one of several reasons her presidential campaign failed last year.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2025
Also, his estimate arose from abstruse economic formulas and lots of magic asterisks.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Into Breaking Its Own Rules To emphasize the importance of math, Winkler displayed a handful of abstruse equations.
—Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstruse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstruse
Adjective
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Malissa Mabey Photo Such an esoteric directive might’ve deterred some designers, but Julia Miller of the AD PRO Directory firm Yond Interiors was thrilled to synthesize Henkemeyer’s highly specific (and yet abstract) ideas into a tangible home.—
Morgan Goldberg,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2026
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Some conversations took a more esoteric turn.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Judaism has profound ethics and principles of justice for all.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Nowhere was his impact more profound than in journalism with the launch of CNN.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abstruse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstruse. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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