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
Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2025
Using their mouse lines and other genetic tricks, his team added fluorescent tags to three populations of sensory neurons known to respond to gentle touch, but whose axon endings were still obscure.
—Ariel Bleicher, Quanta Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
But this spectacle has obscured a series of moves by the administration that could profoundly harm some of the most vulnerable people in the U.S.: children.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscure
Adjective
Over the past two decades, China has occupied a number of obscure reefs and atolls far from its shoreline across the South China Sea, building up military installations, including runways and ports.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2025
Using their mouse lines and other genetic tricks, his team added fluorescent tags to three populations of sensory neurons known to respond to gentle touch, but whose axon endings were still obscure.
—Ariel Bleicher, Quanta Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
But late and dramatic comeback wins against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers helped obscure shoddy bullpen performances and inefficiencies at third base.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
But this spectacle has obscured a series of moves by the administration that could profoundly harm some of the most vulnerable people in the U.S.: children.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscure
Adjective
-
Storm clouds loomed over Europe, and Adolf Hitler's ambitions were not ambiguous for anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear—especially U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Timing for the start of production is likewise ambiguous.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The young man was decapitated after death for unknown reasons, although this was a ritualistic practice for some people during the Roman period.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Parents cannot read their kids' messages, but will receive alerts if the text messages contain images with explicit content, harmful words from unknown contacts, or links from unknown contacts.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Jared Weiss of The Athletic shared via X. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson was quite vague when discussing the possibility of Garland suiting up for Game 4.—
Mark Weinstein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Apr. 2025
-
For now, the language in the president’s executive order was fairly vague.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by FBI agents last week, charged with obstruction of justice and concealing an individual to prevent an arrest.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025
-
The alleged smuggler, a Mexican citizen, was arrested on suspicion of hiding the birds in nylon stockings concealed inside his boots.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
The site’s newfound might may blur the lines between editorial and matchmaking, but those charges aren’t exactly new.—
Jason Clinkscales,
Sportico.com,
2 May 2025
-
But Mills and his colleagues have also spent the last four years working on ways to blur the lines between Disney’s linear and streaming properties in order to maximize audience potential for the company’s unscripted assets.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to ‘find the accountant,’ Wolff is compelled to solve the case.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Despite the cryptic message, many fans figured out where to find the singer and showed up in droves, forcing Lorde to initially cancel her appearance.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But the picture of the future is still murky amid economic uncertainty.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The two friends straight-lined it down the hill, crossing the freezing murky puddle.—
Anna Fiorentino,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Subtle minerality and a light floral touch on the nose give way to a peppery palate, finishing short but clean with faint cereal warmth and crisp simplicity.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The Accountant 2, arriving this week some eight long years after the original, does not earn even that faintest of praise.—
A.A. Dowd,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscure. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share