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
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
His late-night attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook—citing obscure allegations of mortgage fraud—has now forced the courts into uncharted territory, testing whether a president can legally purge central bank officials who resist him.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Except for nearly the 133,000 inmates and their families and loved ones none of these places have been obscured.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscure
Adjective
In an era where Hollywood is always looking for the next big reboot, what better place to find a piece of brilliant undiscovered IP than a store stuffed with some of the most obscure VHS tapes ever made?
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
His late-night attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook—citing obscure allegations of mortgage fraud—has now forced the courts into uncharted territory, testing whether a president can legally purge central bank officials who resist him.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Until now, scientists typically converted a spin current into an electrical signal to detect it, a process that obscures direct spin information.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Except for nearly the 133,000 inmates and their families and loved ones none of these places have been obscured.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscure
Adjective
-
Unlike Europe's clear regulatory framework under PSD2, American enterprises operate in a more ambiguous environment where implementation decisions must account for evolving compliance requirements and uncertain regulatory timelines.—
Dave Glaser,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Dani's on-again, off-again relationship with playboy photographer Andre — who's also her sister's ex's nephew — has become more ambiguous than ever in recent weeks.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Brown died in his apartment in Harlem, New York City on an unknown date.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Questions remain about the space rock’s composition, which is currently unknown.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 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
-
Incitement and threats of imminent harm would need to be specific toward someone and at a specific time rather than vague wishes of someone’s death or celebrations of someone’s death.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Besides fatigue, the other possible symptoms can be quite vague and non-specific like abdominal discomfort, pain or swelling or unexplained weight loss, muscle loss or muscle weakness.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Responding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Senate Bill 627 would prohibit law enforcement on the local, state and federal level from wearing masks that conceal their identity in the course of duty.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
There are three other food and beverage venues, including El Secreto, a hidden salon and bar, quietly concealed behind an unmarked door on the hotel’s second floor, and La Cava, the adjacent emerald-toned jewel that is Faena’s wine cellar, an intimate setting for unforgettable private gatherings.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
AFAR Media,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Long Walk uses the rawness of its spartan premise to venture deep into uncomfortable territory, culminating in an ending that blurs the lines between perseverance and defeat, hope and nihilism.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
On the third floor, The World of RH Bar and Lounge showcases highlights from other RH destinations around the world, including two jets RH One and Two, the RH Three yacht, and 26 restaurants and bars, showing how seamlessly the brand blurs the line between lifestyle and design.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But Fellowes remains cryptic when asked about possible spinoff series or films.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The Maine native has a history of using her outfits to send cryptic messages.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, the outlook for heavier-duty Russian rocket engines is murky, at best.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, the Cowboys are coming off a Week 1 loss to the Eagles, and their immediate future is looking murky.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscure. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share