obscure 1 of 2

adjective

äb-ˈskyu̇r How to pronounce obscure (audio)
Definition of obscurenext
1
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning a fantasy writer who likes to put lots of obscure references and images in her tales of wizards and warlocks

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2
as in unknown
not widely known he's an obscure artist now, but he's sure to be famous someday

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3
as in darkened
being without light or without much light hid in an obscure spot among the trees

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4
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly a distinction so obscure that only the experts can really see it

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obscure

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to conceal
to keep secret or shut off from view the investigative reporters obscured their real motives for visiting the company by pretending the story was about something else

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2
as in to blur
to make dark, dim, or indistinct when it isn't obscured by smog, the view of the city from the observatory can be spectacular

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word obscure different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of obscure are ambiguous, cryptic, dark, enigmatic, equivocal, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

When can ambiguous be used instead of obscure?

The meanings of ambiguous and obscure largely overlap; however, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

In what contexts can cryptic take the place of obscure?

While the synonyms cryptic and obscure are close in meaning, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

When is dark a more appropriate choice than obscure?

The words dark and obscure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

When might enigmatic be a better fit than obscure?

The words enigmatic and obscure can be used in similar contexts, but enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

When could equivocal be used to replace obscure?

While in some cases nearly identical to obscure, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

Where would vague be a reasonable alternative to obscure?

In some situations, the words vague and obscure are roughly equivalent. However, vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

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 obscure
Adjective
The Winter Olympics are a time of competition, drama, backstories and more, all centered around not just the familiar (like figure skating), but the more obscure. —Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026 The recollection was part of a typically obscure clue package for the reality TV star, who competed in the ongoing 14th season of The Masked Singer as the Calla Lily. —Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Upon noticing a doorbell camera, the subject calmly seeks foliage from Guthrie’s porch area to try and obscure the lens. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026 So their needs may be obfuscated, obscured even, from them! —Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obscure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscure
  1. ambiguous
  2. unknown
  3. darkened
  4. vague
  5. conceal
  6. blur
  7. cryptic
  8. murky
Adjective
  • Çatak’s anti-state message acquires an ambiguous power as the movie wends onward, with an enigmatic final shot that finds Aziz tasting clear-skies freedom but still from behind confines of a sort.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Wuthering Heights simultaneously puts too much malevolence on Nelly’s shoulders while also making her final decisions sort of nonsensical, even ambiguous.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • The plane crashed into mountainous terrain in unknown circumstances, according to preliminary information, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Set on the eve of the German invasion of Belgium and the Netherlands, the drama explores the situation for Belgian Jews, torn between staying in their homeland amid or fleeing for an unknown destiny, through the prism of a love story and the microcosm of the broadcast radio world.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of unknown
Adjective
  • Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui posted a video to X over the weekend, showing a dazzling view of auroras spreading like a tall blanket over the darkened Earth below.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Over the weekend, around 16,000 people paid their respects to the designer at his funeral chamber at the Armani Teatro designed by Tadao Ando, filled with white flowers and paper lanterns on the floor in a diagonal grid formation dimly lit up the darkened venue.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • Young Rod went off to France by himself, and on a visit to Chartres, standing in the nave of the cathedral, he was overcome by a vague but powerful sense that God was real.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Some scholars suspect that his race was deliberately kept vague and note that, at the time, even those from other European countries like Italy or Spain would have been discriminated against by Brits.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of vague
Verb
  • To be sure, stable average prices can conceal the reality that some patients face higher expenses while others see lower costs.
    — Chris Pope, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Plaintiffs also accuse the companies of failing to warn users about the risks of using their products and of deliberately concealing their dangers.
    — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • From time to time, her vision would blur.
    — Ari Daniel, NPR, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The clip shows a dark-haired man whose face is blurred, though a goatee is somewhat visible.
    — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of blur
Adjective
  • Then over the past weekend, the family posted another video — one that was more cryptic and generated even more speculation about Nancy Guthrie’s fate.
    — Hallie Golden, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Then over the past weekend, the family posted another video — one that was more cryptic and generated even more speculation about Nancy Guthrie’s fate.
    — TY ONEIL, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of cryptic
Adjective
  • But in the murky intermediate regime, the full quantum complexity of each electron plays a role, and the problem is classically intractable.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 4 Feb. 2026
  • There were a lot of murky secrets in the Victorian world.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of murky

Browse Nearby Words

obscurant
obscure
obscured
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Cite this Entry

“Obscure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscure. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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