1
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
a fantasy writer who likes to put lots of obscure references and images in her tales of wizards and warlocks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unknown
not widely known
he's an obscure artist now, but he's sure to be famous someday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in darkened
being without light or without much light
hid in an obscure spot among the trees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly
a distinction so obscure that only the experts can really see it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to conceal
to keep secret or shut off from view
the investigative reporters obscured their real motives for visiting the company by pretending the story was about something else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to blur
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
when it isn't obscured by smog, the view of the city from the observatory can be spectacular
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obscure
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
Even Idaho’s Craters of the Moon National Monument Dark Sky Park, which has some of the darkest skies in the national park system, made the list of obscure destinations for observing the colorful phenomenon.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
In the series of videos, the face of Olsen’s new partner was blurred out to obscure his identity, which the creator acknowledged in the caption of the post.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscure
Adjective
Outside the realm of pop idols and superheroes, some young commentators are still performing the classic critical duty of digging into the obscure and underrated.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
Even Idaho’s Craters of the Moon National Monument Dark Sky Park, which has some of the darkest skies in the national park system, made the list of obscure destinations for observing the colorful phenomenon.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
Conversely, when the environment is very well-lit—especially by direct light sources like overhead or wall lamps—the glossy finish of the panel tends to reflect the sources, obscuring the picture in the process.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
In the series of videos, the face of Olsen’s new partner was blurred out to obscure his identity, which the creator acknowledged in the caption of the post.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscure
Adjective
-
According to the institute statement, which remained ambiguous about the mosquito’s permanence, the insect probably arrived via freight transportation.—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Perhaps its message is meant to be deliberately ambiguous—or maybe there’s no message at all.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Jourdan is a relatively calm ghost (staff report objects being moved around the restaurant), but there’s a slightly more active spirit in the Courtyard Bar, where there have been three instances of an unknown source throwing a glass from across the room.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
-
An unexpected set of circumstances set the stage for Boots, which is otherwise relatively modest and unknown compared to the titles bookending it, to make its mark on the Top 10 after premiering on October 9.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Over the weekend, around 16,000 people paid their respects to the designer at his funeral chamber at the Armani Teatro designed by Tadao Ando, filled with white flowers and paper lanterns on the floor in a diagonal grid formation dimly lit up the darkened venue.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Use numbers instead of vague words.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The president had previously discussed his plans for the trucking industry in a Truth Social post, but had been vague on details.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Though the structures appear to only be heads, many of them have full bodies that have been concealed by sediment over the centuries.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Thick and fast-growing, the greenery conceals a chain-link fence that helps with crowd control between the stands and field.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Draped in orange velvet curtains, layered with vintage rugs and filled with embellished pieces that feel as if they’ve been discovered in another time, the space is designed to create an atmosphere that blurs the line between fashion and fantasy.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Battling the debilitating symptoms of a late-stage brain tumor, his grasp on reality becomes increasingly fragile, and as the unlikely duo sets out on the run, old memories blur with the present, dredging up dark secrets from his past.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Strange statues and cryptic riddles in Italian or Latin appear around every corner, making each visit feel like a discovery that the whole family can enjoy.—
Fulvio De Bonis,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Danity Kane has revealed dates for a collection of reunion performances with cryptic messaging.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
From there, things get murkier.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Right now, the future in New York looks murky.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscure. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share