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   Ob·scure

   /əbˈskyo͝or/

   

   adjective

   • 1. not discovered or known about; uncertain: "his origins and parentage are obscure" Similar unclearuncertainunknownin doubtdoubtfuldubiousmysterioushazyvagueindeterminateconcealedhidden
   • ▪ not clearly expressed or easily understood: "obscure references to Proust" Similar abstrusereconditearcaneesotericrecherchéoccultenigmaticmystifyingpuzzlingperplexingbafflingambiguouscrypticequivocalDelphicoracularriddlingobliqueopaqueellipticalunintelligibleuninterpretableincomprehensibleimpenetrableunfathomableinexplicableunexplainedinformal:as clear as mudOpposite clearplain
   • ▪ not important or well known: "an obscure religious sect" Similar little knownunknownunheard ofundistinguishedinsignificantunimportantinconsequentialinconspicuousunnoticednamelessanonymousminorhumblelowlyunrenownedunsungunrecognizedunhonoredingloriousforgottenOpposite famousrenowned
   • ▪ hard to make out or define; vague: "I feel an obscure resentment" Similar indistinctfaintvagueill-definedunclearblurredblurrymistyhazyfoggyveiledcloudycloudednebulousfuzzydarkdimunlitblackmurkysombergloomyshadyshadowyliterary:duskytenebrousdarklingcrepuscularrare:caliginousCimmerianOpposite distinct
   • ▪ (of a color) not sharply defined; dim or dingy.

   verb

   • 1. keep from being seen; conceal: "gray clouds obscure the sun" Similar hideconcealcoverveilshroudscreenmaskcloakcast a shadow overshadowenvelopmantleblockblock outblank outobliterateeclipseovershadowliterary:enshroudbedimbenightrare:obnubilateadumbrateOpposite reveal
   • ▪ make unclear and difficult to understand: "the debate has become obscured by conflicting ideological perspectives" Similar confusecomplicateobfuscatecloudblurmuddymuddy the watersliterary:becloudbefogOpposite clarifyilluminate
   • ▪ overshadow: "none of this should obscure the skill, experience, and perseverance of the workers"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French obscur, from Latin obscurus ‘dark’, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘cover’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. obscurely adverb

   Scrabble Points: 11

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2. People also ask

   What is another word for obscure?

   • Of undistinguished or humble station or reputation: an obscure poet; an obscure family. 6. Not clearly understood or expressed; ambiguous or vague: Some say that Blake's style is obscure and complex. See Synonyms at ambiguous. 1. To make dim, indistinct, or impossible to see: "His face was obscured in shadow" (Rosemary Mahoney).

   Obscureness - definition of obscureness by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com/obscureness

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   What is the difference between obscure and enigmatic?

   • obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge. dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion. vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration. enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

   Obscure Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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   What does obscure mean in a sentence?

   • (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract. not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive: obscure motivations. (of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly. indistinct to the sight or any other sense; not readily seen, heard, etc.; faint.

   OBSCURE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What is the difference between obscure and dark?

   • obscure, dark, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, ambiguous, equivocal mean not clearly understandable. obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge. dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

   Obscure Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › obscureObscure Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › obscure

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   Obscure means not clearly understood or easily distinguishable, or not readily expressed. It can be an adjective, verb, or noun. See synonyms, examples, etymology, and history of the word obscure.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › obscureOBSCURE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › obscure

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   Obscure can be an adjective meaning not known or not clear, or a verb meaning to prevent something from being seen or heard. Learn more about the meaning, pronunciation, synonyms, and usage of obscure with examples from various sources.

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6. www.dictionary.com › browse › obscureOBSCURE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › obscure

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   Obscure means not clear, plain, or noticeable; hard to understand or perceive; or lacking in light or illumination. It can also be a verb meaning to conceal or make dark. See the origin, synonyms, and usage examples of obscure on Dictionary.com.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › obscureObscure - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › obscure

   If something is obscure, it's vague and hard to see. Be careful if you're driving in heavy rain — the painted lines can be obscure. Obscure comes from Latin obscurus, which can mean "dark, dim," "unclear, hard to understand," or "insignificant, humble." We tend to use obscure in the metaphorical senses: an obscure sound is unclear, an obscure ...

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › obscureOBSCURE | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › obscure

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   Obscure can be an adjective or a verb. As an adjective, it means not known by many people or difficult to understand. As a verb, it means to prevent something from being seen or heard, or to make something difficult to understand.

9. www.thefreedictionary.com › obscureObscure - definition of obscure by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › obscure

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   Obscure means unclear, indistinct, vague, or inconspicuous, and can be used as an adjective, verb, or noun. It can also mean to make dim, indistinct, or impossible to see, or to reduce a vowel to a neutral sound. Find synonyms, examples, and related terms from various dictionaries and sources.

10. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishOBSCURE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

    www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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    2 days ago · Obscure can be an adjective or a verb that means unknown, unclear, or difficult to understand. It can also mean to hide, cover, or make less distinct. See examples, synonyms, and pronunciation of obscure.