as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the opacity of the abstract painter's works simply baffles many gallery visitors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 opacity
The Haitian American singer-songwriter keeps the mood hushed and hazy on his second album, channeling the experimental R&B canon in songs that toggle between sincerity and opacity.
—
Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2026
Another concern is private markets — like derivatives markets, noted for their opacity — which are increasingly intermingled with public markets and have the potential to cause a crash.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
That rapid growth combined with the industry’s opacity — the terms of private loans are, as the name implies, not public — has long made the sector a subject of concern for policy makers and academics, Goldstein notes.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Who is getting through — and how Identifying vessel ownership is complicated by the multiple layers through which ships are registered, such as flag state, registered owner, with crew members' nationality and final destinations adding more opacity.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opacity
Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2026
Another concern is private markets — like derivatives markets, noted for their opacity — which are increasingly intermingled with public markets and have the potential to cause a crash.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
That rapid growth combined with the industry’s opacity — the terms of private loans are, as the name implies, not public — has long made the sector a subject of concern for policy makers and academics, Goldstein notes.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Who is getting through — and how Identifying vessel ownership is complicated by the multiple layers through which ships are registered, such as flag state, registered owner, with crew members' nationality and final destinations adding more opacity.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opacity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opacity
Noun
-
The power of its clarity or ambiguity.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
Part of the concern has to do with the ethical ambiguities surrounding the project.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
That intrigue and mysteriousness still rest in the canyon walls today.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
International humanitarian law mandates the principles of distinction, proportionality, and necessity, but the opaqueness of drone operations, particularly outside active battlefields, challenges these principles.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
-
But gun control groups and other critics say the opaqueness of the decisions — and the inclusion of Hoffman on the list — leave the potential for loopholes and future harm.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Opacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opacity. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
