opaque

adjective

\ō-ˈpāk

\

Definition of opaque

1 : blocking the passage of radiant energy and especially light : exhibiting opacity (see opacity sense 1)

2a : hard to understand or explain opaque prose

b : obtuse, thickheaded

Other Words from opaque Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about opaque

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Examples of opaque in a Sentence

In the opening hour, a group of strangers receive a maddeningly opaque cell-phone summons to join a secret cross-country race with a $32 million prize. The thing is, the summons can also be a threat (one competitor's wife is possibly being help captive), and the consequences of falling behind are murderous. — Tom Gliatto, People, 23 Apr. 2007 The reality facing Rory Stewart was that he was sent into a collapsed rural region in a country of which he knew almost nothing, and in which he had to find his way through a maze of opaque tribal and religious relationships. — Robert Skidelsky, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006 Arborio rice, the kind that grows in the Po Valley and gave rise to the wonderful dish risotto, has a tiny opaque white pearl on the inside that remains al dente, and starch on the outside that the grains release during cooking, making a creamy sauce. — Corby Kummer, Atlantic, March 1993 the opaque water of the muddy river somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics

Recent Examples on the Web

But the Central Bank of Libya late Tuesday agreed to be subjected to an independent review, responding to Mr. Haftar’s contention that its accounts are too opaque. — Summer Said, WSJ, "U.A.E. Backed Militia Leader’s Bid to Take Control of Libyan Oil Exports," 13 July 2018 Continue grilling until salmon is opaque and cooked through. about another 3 minutes. — Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, "Full of healthful fat, salmon is one of the easiest fish to grill," 24 June 2018 But the suit’s true aim, Eagleson said, is to pry loose answers from a Saudi government that has denied being involved in the attacks, but remains loath to bare the inner workings of its famously opaque regime. — Matthew Ormseth, courant.com, "Nearly 17 Years After 9/11, Middletown Son Seeks Answers From F.B.I.," 9 Apr. 2018 Make wells among vegetables and crack an egg into each space; return to oven and roast until meat is cooked through and egg whites are opaque throughout, 8 to 10 minutes more. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "English Breakfast Tray Bake," 12 Feb. 2018 Ultimately, going private is a reaction to Instagram's opaque and ever-changing internal systems for surfacing posts. — Taylor Lorenz, The Atlantic, "Why Some of Instagram's Biggest Memers Are Locking Their Accounts," 12 July 2018 Fish should be opaque and flake easily, with internal temperature reading 145 degrees. — Ashleigh Spitza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Keep it simple and seasonal in the kitchen during summer," 7 June 2018 But that wasn't even the most opaque thing Sanders said Wednesday. — Aaron Blake, Washington Post, "The White House is being suspiciously coy about Stormy Daniels," 7 Mar. 2018 And the process to reinstate your own voting rights after you’ve served time is often opaque and complex. — Jill Filipovic, Cosmopolitan, "Election Day Was More Than Just a Good Day for Democrats. It Was a Message.," 9 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opaque.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near opaque

opaque projector

Statistics for opaque

Last Updated

3 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for opaque

The first known use of opaque was in 1641

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More Definitions for opaque

opaque

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of opaque

: not letting light through : not transparent

: difficult to understand or explain

See the full definition for opaque in the English Language Learners Dictionary

opaque

adjective

\ō-ˈpāk

\

Kids Definition of opaque

1 : not letting light through : not transparent

2 : not reflecting light : dull an opaque paint

opaque

adjective

\ō-ˈpāk

\

Medical Definition of opaque

: exhibiting opacity : not pervious to radiant energy

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