as in thickness
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind
our guest's obtuseness was such that he failed to take even the broadest hint that it was time to leave
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtuseness
Noun
-
Project Silica writes data in hundreds of layers throughout the entire 2-mm thickness of the glass.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Feb. 2026 -
With a nice thickness that didn't run all over the plate, and a balanced sweetness with strong maple flavors, our editors thought this would be an ideal pancake syrup.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Marco Bellocchio‘s six-episode Italian-language drama is a living nightmare of the past that doubles as an agonizing manifestation of the present — a potent reminder that widespread stupidity isn’t confined to a single time or place.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Compare that to punk rock, which used dumbness as a tactic.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But the composer Huang Ruo knows that this slowness can also offer opportunity for pause, reflection, and escape.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
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The slowness is part of its appeal.—
Kallie Plagge,
The Verge,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Today, that same intentional approach extends to a wide range of products addressing nearly every hair concern, from dryness and breakage to dullness.—
Kieaundria Bellamy,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
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Once activated with water, rice powder and rice extract gently buff away dullness, while papaya enzymes dissolve dead skin cells without any harsh scrubbing.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The pressure brought forth both boneheadedness and brilliance.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Don’t be afraid of the foolishness.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Was her decision to push forward with a severe knee injury a calculated risk or stubborn foolishness?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The show’s real villain is mindlessness, in other words.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Obtuseness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtuseness. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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