Synonyms of obtuse

obtuse

adjective

äb-ˈtüs 

1

as in blunt

lacking sharpness of edge or point

obtuse scissors designed so that young users will not cut themselves

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blunt
• blunted
• dull
• dulled
• flattened
• rounded
• smooth
• dullish
• level
• even
• flat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sharp
• pointed
• edgy
• keen
• edged
• ground
• jagged
• cutting
• honed
• spiky
• sharpened
• prickly
• spiny
• needlelike
• spiked
• scratching
• piercing
• spikelike
• whetted
• spikey
• lacerating
• stabbing
• jabbing
• ultrasharp

2

as in stupid

not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily

forgive me for being obtuse, but I wish you'd explain that to me again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stupid
• dumb
• slow
• simple
• thick
• dense
• ignorant
• dull
• idiotic
• foolish
• thickheaded
• unintelligent
• fatuous
• opaque
• vacuous
• doltish
• dopey
• silly
• boneheaded
• dunderheaded
• irrational
• brain-dead
• unreasonable
• pinheaded
• witless
• dim
• oafish
• soft
• mindless
• bonehead
• brainless
• lamebrain
• insane
• dopy
• senseless
• dorky
• softheaded
• mad
• weak-minded
• dim-witted
• gormless
• lamebrained
• crazy
• slow-witted
• empty-headed
• moronic
• thick-witted
• airheaded
• lunkheaded
• idiotical
• knuckleheaded
• chuckleheaded
• half-witted
• unsmart
• absurd
• bubbleheaded
• imbecilic
• looney
• simpleminded
• cretinous
• uninformed
• imbecile
• lunatic
• birdbrained
• uneducated
• feebleminded
• unintellectual
• unthinking
• illogical
• illiterate
• asinine
• nonsensical
• fool
• untaught
• zany
• whacky
• lowbrow
• daft
• dippy
• preposterous
• unwise
• wacky
• nutty
• daffy
• fallacious
• loony
• sappy
• kooky
• invalid
• cuckoo
• harebrained
• screwball
• dotty
• cockeyed
• crackpot
• half-baked
• balmy
• boobish
• tomfool
• kookie
• featherheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intelligent
• brilliant
• clever
• sharp
• apt
• acute
• quick
• smart
• bright
• ingenious
• keen
• nimble
• fast
• resourceful
• wise
• astute
• insightful
• perceptive
• cerebral
• thinking
• sagacious
• intellectual
• savvy
• erudite
• knowing
• brainy
• knowledgeable
• keen
• discerning
• literate
• skilled
• quick-witted
• scholarly
• learned
• sharp-witted
• perspicacious
• sage
• informed
• cunning
• educated
• ultrasmart
• shrewd
• hyperintelligent
• supersmart
• reasonable
• wily
• sound
• trained
• sensible
• logical
• sapient
• highbrow
• crafty
• rational
• percipient
• valid
• prudent
• judicious
• sane
• well-read
• schooled
• foxy

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective obtuse differ from other similar words?

The words blunt and dull are common synonyms of obtuse. While all three words mean "not sharp, keen, or acute," obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination.

too obtuse to take the hint

When might blunt be a better fit than obtuse?

The synonyms blunt and obtuse are sometimes interchangeable, but blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception.

a person of blunt sensibility

When is it sensible to use dull instead of obtuse?

The words dull and obtuse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency.

a dull pain

a dull mind

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of obtuse

There would be no obtuse angles; the idea was to maintain a feeling of innocence, like that of a child opening a toy for the first time. —Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025

The Monkey is a source of constant obtuse dialogue and characters that exist only for the cheapest comic relief. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2025

See the previous discussion of economists, and their horridly obtuse belief that war grows the economy. —John Tamny, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

The dismissals were compelled by twin obtuse opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in the Department of Justice issued in 1973 and 2000. —Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 4 Dec. 2024

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