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
-
Lightly roll dough to 3/4-inch thickness.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026 -
Women tend to reach peak hair thickness around age 40, and about 38% of women over 50 experience noticeable thinning, according to UCLA Health.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Any who show up are declaring their indelible stupidity and misogyny.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
24 Feb. 2026
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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
Noun
-
Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
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Compare that to punk rock, which used dumbness as a tactic.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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That slowness also applies to the mail itself.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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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
Noun
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The retinol in the formula also helps address discoloration and dullness, for overall brighter and more even-toned skin.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
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Regular cleaning and quick spill cleanups help prevent long-term stains, warping, and dullness.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The pressure brought forth both boneheadedness and brilliance.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There was no foolishness tolerated from him and, of course, Magic, his lieutenant.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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Don’t be afraid of the foolishness.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There’s the White House and its malicious megaphone of mindlessness; the generative AI advocates and their pushy, pathetic ploys; the Major League Baseball owners and their dedication to self-destruction.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Feb. 2026
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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 17 Mar. 2026.
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