1
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the 16th-century astrologer's predictions are so filled with obscurity that people can interpret them any way they want
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in oblivion
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown
the singer languished in relative obscurity for years before becoming famous
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mysteriousness
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain
her novels were favored by gullible critics who confuse obscurity with profundity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscurity
After the stark suspense of the wartime plot, the refined obscurities of the Heudeber plot feel pallid and fussy; after the historical density of Heudeber’s world, the longue durée of the wartime plot seems frustratingly obscure, limited to the here and now of the senses.
—
Nicholas Dames, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
For too long, your culture has been shrouded in obscurity, and even shame.
—Kira Garcia, New Yorker, 17 June 2025
The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel Photo: Courtesy of Tribeca Festival
How did a 1970s British soccer star disappear without a trace at the peak of his career and, years later, end up managing a down-at-the-heels West Hollywood motel in obscurity?
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 13 June 2025
But Superstore, the last Justin Spitzer sitcom to get great reviews on NBC, toiled in Emmy obscurity forever.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Nicholas Dames, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
For too long, your culture has been shrouded in obscurity, and even shame.
—Kira Garcia, New Yorker, 17 June 2025
The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel Photo: Courtesy of Tribeca Festival
How did a 1970s British soccer star disappear without a trace at the peak of his career and, years later, end up managing a down-at-the-heels West Hollywood motel in obscurity?
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 13 June 2025
But Superstore, the last Justin Spitzer sitcom to get great reviews on NBC, toiled in Emmy obscurity forever.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscurity
Noun
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But the resulting ambiguity can fuel tensions as well.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
29 June 2025
-
The divide between the sexes seems to be widening, with many individuals reluctant to find themselves in the gray area in between, where ambiguity could lead to criticism or social ostracism.—
Jerry Colonna,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Doing so will require the triggering of another release clause, though this one is a lot more expensive at €58 million and won’t be as straightforward to raise for a club still recovering from a financial crisis that pushed it to the brink of oblivion earlier this decade.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Attacking the concepts with an edge of Black Mirror, youthful characters forgo the stress of a body altogether and upload themselves to a neural computer network, seek oblivion from sentient boulders.—
Michelle Tea
June 18,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
Biden, a Catholic, visited later in the afternoon, walking up to the velvet rope in front of the caskets, making the sign of the cross, and spending a few moments by himself in silence.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
28 June 2025
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Iran supreme leader claims ‘victory’ in first public comments Khamenei’s silence since the war began had sparked intense speculation as to his whereabouts.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
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The fest is a swirling vortex of music, crowds, and questionable fashion choices — the perfect backdrop for a breakup The best part of ACL as a breakup venue is the promise of anonymity within a massive crowd.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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Womack tried to maintain her anonymity and refrained from commenting on the defamation case and other public statements that tried to sow doubt about findings of that inquiry.—
Liam Adams,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscurity. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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