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

As with many ultra-high-net-worth families, their fortune is held in an opaque network of offshore trusts and other obscure entities. — Ben Widdicombe, Town & Country, "Billion Dollar Divorces: What Happens When the Super Wealthy Risk Everything for Love on the Down-Low," 10 Apr. 2019 The Leggings Depot leggings leggings claim to be super soft, high-waisted, and opaque — at a crazy-low price point. — Shanon Maglente, Good Housekeeping, "Amazon's Best-Selling $11 Leggings Are My New Favorite Staple," 28 Mar. 2019 Paired with a swirl of bronzer, nude lip gloss, and slicked-back platinum lengths, let Ora’s opaque black liner guide your creative hands for a going-out vibe this weekend: beauty challenge accepted. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "Rita Ora Takes This Versace-Approved Makeup Statement for a Spin," 17 Jan. 2019 The idea behind the additional step is that the porous material will soak up much of the liquid base, allowing the glitter to go on in a thick, opaque coat. — Zoë Weiner, Teen Vogue, "How To Apply Glitter Nail Polish the Right Way," 10 Jan. 2019 The Duchess of Sussex wore an opaque dark nail polish to match her dress. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Opts for Rare Dark Nails at the British Fashion Awards," 10 Dec. 2018 No, this is the mascara that quite literally coats your lashes with an opaque, paint-like level of formula with one swipe, creating a genuine falsie-level finish. — Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, "The 5 Truly Excellent Beauty Products I'm Loving This Week," 24 Oct. 2018 Depending on your vantage point, the large rectangle spreading across the surface is transparent or opaque. — Gayle Clemans, The Seattle Times, "‘The Veil’ exhibition at Bridge Productions spans ideas of what’s seen and unseen," 7 Aug. 2018 The red and black options are opaque, but the red option has a cool color-shifting effect that changes from red to yellow. — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, "HTC’s new flagship smartphone has a translucent back, dual front cameras," 23 May 2018

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.