Definition of obscure
1a : dark, dim the obscure dusk of the shuttered roomb : shrouded in or hidden by darkness standing obscure in the deepest shadec : not clearly seen or easily distinguished : faint obscure markings
2 : not readily understood or clearly expressed; also : mysterious a slough of pretentious and obscure jargon — Philip Howard
3 : relatively unknown: such asa : remote, secluded an obscure villageb : not prominent or famous an obscure poet
4 : constituting the unstressed vowel \ə\ or having unstressed \ə\ as its value
obscurely
adverbobscureness
nounExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of obscure in a Sentence
Many people shared an obscure sense of gratification that [Dylan] Thomas had died young, as a poet should. —Adam Kirsch, New Yorker, 5 July 2004
But by 1830 the Boston Mission Board was desperate enough that it targeted an obscure sect of Oriental Christians, the Nestorians in faraway Iran, as a possibility for conversion. —Robert D. Kaplan, The Arabists, 1993
I knew they were special from their jeans and T-shirts, their knowing, ironic looks when obscure works of literature were referred to. —Julia Alvarez, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, 1991
Now at last Bacon could refer when he chose to his father's high position and his father's service—and no man could say it was done for self-aggrandizement, as a son who is obscure bespeaks the glory of past forebears. —Catherine Drinker Bowen, Francis Bacon, 1963
The movie is full of obscure references that only pop culture enthusiasts will understand.
The origins of the language are obscure.
Recent Examples of obscure from the Web
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It is led by two Republicans and consists of seven Republicans (four of them prominent proponents of the voter-fraud story, such as Hans von Spakovsky, a lawyer) and five hitherto obscure Democrats.
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Some obscure Uniqlo collab only available in Europe?
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But fear not, oh rabid sports fans. Skillets — formerly a BFF Asian Grill & Sports Bar — provides plenty of flat screens for cheering on all manner of sports events, from the obscure to the downright depressing: the latest Rangers loss.
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The government has generally not publicized how disruptive the hiatus at Los Alamos has been, although telltale data appear in obscure reports by the National Nuclear Security Administration.
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A plot to whitewash data and obscure animal deaths?
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WORTH NOTING Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury tied Pete Rose's obscure record for reaching base the most times in a career on catcher's interference.
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Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas’s House Bill 2 (HB2), a 2013 law holding abortion clinics to certain obscure medical standards, was unconstitutional.
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Sanchez has a habit of tying or beating records set by obscure players.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obscure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of obscure
Middle English, from Anglo-French oscur, obscur, from Latin obscurus
Synonym Discussion of obscure
Definition of obscure
obscured
;obscuring
transitive verb
1 : to make dark, dim, or indistinct The soot on the lampshade obscured the light.
2 : to conceal or hide by or as if by covering … snow on glaciers can obscure deep crevasses. — Tom Simon
3 : to reduce (a vowel) to the value \ə\
Examples of obscure in a Sentence
Throughout this book, the ground of fact becomes obscured entirely by a deep layer of speculative quicksand. —Helen Vendler, New Republic, 10 June 2002
But evening comes or even noon and some combination of nervous tensions obscures my memories of what whiskey costs me in the way of physical and intellectual well-being. —John Cheever, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 1990
… [Mr. Schuller's] … “Early Jazz” brought a sometimes Olympian precision to writing about an art that has often languished in the whale's belly of sociology, obscured by pretension and blubbery thinking. —Stanley Crouch, New York Times Book Review, 2 Apr. 1989
It was eight o'clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the shore enjoying the transitory light, and then retired to the inn and contemplated the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines. —Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein, 1818
The true history has been obscured by legends about what happened.
They accused the company of trying to obscure the fact that the product poses a health risk.
Recent Examples of obscure from the Web
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Kylie covered up her ensemble and obscured her face from the paparazzi with a zebra striped throw blanket.
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Coats came sleeveless or had long arms that obscured the hands.
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Such hopes were dashed, however, because thin clouds covered the sun during the critical moments, obscuring faint background stars in its vicinity.
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Clark said that can often be difficult because riders obscure their faces with masks.
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Opening a door The pageantry and drama of Saturday’s Bass Hall awards ceremony tends to obscure the Cliburn’s ultimate purpose.
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Both sides accuse the other of obscuring facts and spreading misinformation.
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This month, city workers will finally begin the installation of a new barrier, a grey netting that will blend into the water without obscuring the view.
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But at least hiding the hypocrisy in the common ownership of a parent company also obscures it from the consumer’s view.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obscure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of obscure
see 1obscure
Examples of obscure in a Sentence
… who shall … through the palpable obscure find out his uncouth way … ? —John Milton, Paradise Lost, 1667
Recent Examples of obscure from the Web
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Obscure, but cool MK Bucyrus-Erie B3: The 1930s-era shovel owned by Morrison-Knudsen, the giant construction company started in Boise, likely dug canals in the local area.
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Obscure assets are the last refuge for human money managers.
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Here, like those peek-a-boo fans wielded by the clunky kick line, the concept obscures.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obscure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of obscure
see 1obscure
OBSCURE Defined for English Language Learners
obscure
playDefinition of obscure for English Language Learners
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: not well-known : not known to most people
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: difficult to understand : likely to be understood by only a few people
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: difficult or impossible to know completely and with certainty
obscure
playDefinition of obscure for English Language Learners
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: to make (something) difficult to understand or know : to make (something) obscure
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: to hide or cover (something) : to be in front of (something) so that it cannot be seen
OBSCURE Defined for Kids
Definition of obscure for Students
1 : not easy to see : faint an obscure light
2 : hidden from view an obscure village
3 : not easily understood or clearly expressed I struggled with an obscure chapter in the book.
4 : not outstanding or famous It was written by an obscure poet.
Definition of obscure for Students
obscured
;obscuring
: to make difficult to see or understand Clouds drifted across the sky, obscuring the thin sliver of moon. — Brian Jacques, Redwall
Learn More about obscure
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See words that rhyme with obscure Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for obscure Spanish Central: Translation of obscure Nglish: Translation of obscure for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of obscure for Arabic speakers
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