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
Fred Bauer, National Review, 10 May 2025
What historical and cultural circumstances lead a language down such obscure paths?
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 9 May 2025
Umair Irfan, Vox, 29 Apr. 2025
But for some in Odesa, that ever-present symbol of national unity also obscures a lingering division between Ukraine enthusiasts and a slice of the population that remains nostalgic for Mother Russia.
—Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscure
Adjective
Starting from a relatively obscure blog, Yarvin has emerged as one of the most prominent critics of ...
—Fred Bauer, National Review, 10 May 2025
What historical and cultural circumstances lead a language down such obscure paths?
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 9 May 2025
Verb
Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration dismissed hundreds of scientists this week who were working on a major report on climate change, part of an effort to obscure a scientific reality that’s at odds with the administration’s agenda.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 29 Apr. 2025
But for some in Odesa, that ever-present symbol of national unity also obscures a lingering division between Ukraine enthusiasts and a slice of the population that remains nostalgic for Mother Russia.
—Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscure
Adjective
-
While critical thinking is invaluable, the tendency to fixate on ambiguous data points—many of which pertain to uncontrollable external factors—can lead to unnecessary stress.—
Davide Sartini,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
The two were previously involved in a morally ambiguous mission gone wrong, which led to Vincent murdering an undercover cop.—
Skyler Trepel,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Specifics about storage, port selection, other features, and pricing information are mostly unknown.—
Brian Westover,
PC Magazine,
24 May 2025
-
According to Lesperance, most people don't like to move, abandoning their familiar life for one that is widely unknown.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
This granular visibility transforms sustainability from a vague corporate initiative into precise, actionable intelligence, enabling manufacturers to make targeted improvements that collectively drive significant environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency.—
David Ly,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
Therapists should be trained to help patients build grit and achieve goals, not just listen passively, offer vague reassurances, or affirm every feeling.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
According to dark money hawks, this pass-through funding tactic allows Qatar to conceal state backing as private sector contributions.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
13 May 2025
-
Johnson claimed that Combs’ team went to extreme lengths to conceal the video, alleging that Florez was offered $100,000 to keep the footage a secret.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
The 20-episode series aims to blur the line between reality and imagination, mixing comedy and drama with a nostalgic nod to the vibrant ’90s era that shaped him.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
15 May 2025
-
Further blurring the picture: the Trump administration announced a 90-day pause on the highest import fees for dozens of countries in early April and a similar truce with China on Monday that allows the two sides negotiate further.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
Neither Henry nor Devers have been willing to detail that conversation until now, as Devers finally broke his silence on the discussion with a cryptic four-word message.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 May 2025
-
Still, his message ended on a cheerful note that showed the musician seems to be taking the cryptic dismissal in stride.—
Glenn Rowley,
Billboard,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Its origins are as murky as the exact proportions of the recipe.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
14 May 2025
-
That’s why the outlook for companies like Nvidia — even after recent positive news on chip export controls — remains murky.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
This Week: May 19-25, 2025 As the moon continues to wane from being full last week, the night skies darken enough to find faint stars and constellations.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
-
It’s filled with no-nonsense retinol and has a faint medicinal smell.—
Mary Honkus,
Glamour,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscure. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share