opaque

adjective \ ō-ˈpāk \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: opaque in a Sentence

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

2 a : hard to understand or explain

opaque prose

b : obtuse, thickheaded

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opaque

noun

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opaquely

adverb

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opaqueness

noun

See opaque defined for English-language learners

See opaque defined for kids

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 of opaque from the Web

But some signatories to the 2016 pact to cut supplies say that China’s huge and opaque store of oil needs to be taken into account after being ignored for years, according to OPEC officials.

— sarah mcfarlane, WSJ, "OPEC Faces New Concern Over Global Oil Stocks: China," 5 June 2018
In a bizarre and opaque tale of deception and intrigue, a Russian journalist detested by the Kremlin faked his own murder in Ukraine.

— The Economist, "Politics this week," 31 May 2018
Those oils also help the pigments melt upon contact with your lips, resulting in shiny, juicy color that's rich and saturated, but not fully opaque.

— marci robin, Allure, "Exclusive: Maybelline New York Is Launching a Super-Shiny Oil-Infused Lipstick Line in June," 21 May 2018
At his confirmation hearing before the Senate in November, Bridenstine’s responses to a similar line of questioning were much more nuanced and opaque.

— jason samenow, Washington Post, "NASA head Jim Bridenstine, once doubtful, confirms he believes humans are the leading cause of climate change," 23 May 2018
Broil the salmon for 6 to 8 minutes, or until just opaque and flaky.

— chris ross, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Salmon with rub is easy weeknight meal," 21 May 2018
For one thing, the student-loan industry is notoriously opaque and difficult to deal with.

— amy merrick, The Atlantic, "Should Businesses Help Employees Pay Off Their Student Loans?," 18 May 2018
Cable services have also spent years digging their own graves with bad service and opaque billing—both Comcast and Charter have regularly been among American companies most hated by their own customers.

— david z. morris, Fortune, "Viewers Are Ditching Cable For Streaming Faster Than Anyone Expected," 29 Apr. 2018
The move adds a new degree of transparency to a process that users, the public and advocates have criticized as arbitrary and opaque.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Facebook explains why it bans some content, in 27 pages," 24 Apr. 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.