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
The result is a topsy-turvy movie that is also spiritually profound in ways that the Marvel and DC franchises don’t dare but that became abstruse and chaotic in Snyder’s many Rebel Moon iterations.
—
Armond White, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
However, at the OXY ARTS gallery in Los Angeles, that abstruse portrait of Sagittarius A* looks a little different.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2025
Tunnelling, meanwhile, is an abstruse turn on a classic skill exemplified by the finest Dodger pitcher of them all, Sandy Koufax.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
At the heart of the progress has been von Neumann’s abstruse research.
—Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for abstruse
Armond White, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
However, at the OXY ARTS gallery in Los Angeles, that abstruse portrait of Sagittarius A* looks a little different.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2025
Tunnelling, meanwhile, is an abstruse turn on a classic skill exemplified by the finest Dodger pitcher of them all, Sandy Koufax.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
At the heart of the progress has been von Neumann’s abstruse research.
—Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for abstruse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstruse
Adjective
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After Congress reversed course on accountability in 2015, results for everyone got worse, even as progressive jurisdictions started adopting increasingly esoteric equity strategies.—
Matthew Yglesias,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2025
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Of course, Yamagata is a long way to go just to peep some jellyfish, so combine a visit with the misty temples of nearby Dewa Sanzan, three mountains sacred to the ascetics of the esoteric Shugendo religion.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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The Court also found that Russia was responsible for violating the right to life by shooting down flight MH17 and had added to the profound suffering of the crash victims’ next of kin by being uncooperative and obstructive in the context of international efforts to uncover the truth.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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His lens bore witness to humanity's darkest injustices and most profound resilience.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abstruse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstruse. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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