1
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the 16th-century astrologer's predictions are so filled with obscurity that people can interpret them any way they want
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in oblivion
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown
the singer languished in relative obscurity for years before becoming famous
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mysteriousness
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain
her novels were favored by gullible critics who confuse obscurity with profundity
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscurity
Morning Glory: Legacy media's long slide into obscurity.
—
Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
Mistaken as a comparatively commonplace artwork, it was owned by a 17th-century heir to the Scottish crown who was later beheaded, passed to the illegitimate son of an 18th-century duke, and then languished in obscurity for more than a century.
—Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
But every once in a while, something happens in the world that drives the lingo out of obscurity and into popular discussions.
—Talmon Joseph Smith, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Instead of fading into obscurity, Monero demonstrated remarkable resilience.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
Mistaken as a comparatively commonplace artwork, it was owned by a 17th-century heir to the Scottish crown who was later beheaded, passed to the illegitimate son of an 18th-century duke, and then languished in obscurity for more than a century.
—Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
But every once in a while, something happens in the world that drives the lingo out of obscurity and into popular discussions.
—Talmon Joseph Smith, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Instead of fading into obscurity, Monero demonstrated remarkable resilience.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscurity
Noun
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The White House transmits its warnings, though, through the fog of endless ambiguity.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
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Why Is There Confusion Around Perimenopause Symptoms and Treatments? Some of the ambiguity of perimenopause, compared to the full-on menopausal transition, is the timeline, which can differ for every person.—
Mara Santilli,
Flow Space,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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And, whereas during the first Trump term there was enough chaos and resistance inside the government that some of Trump’s more damaging impulses—to withdraw from NATO, for example—could be slow-walked into oblivion, this time around was different.—
Keith Gessen,
The New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2025
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Once again, her stern words earned tepid applause from a crowd that honestly just wanted to go two hours without thinking about humanity's downward trajectory into civil, moral, and environmental oblivion.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Claressa Shields, the undefeated world champion boxer and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has broken her silence following a suspension for testing positive for marijuana.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
28 Feb. 2025
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For decades after World War II, a long silence engulfed Poland’s Jewish history and the atrocities committed there.—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
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This relative anonymity can be a significant tailwind in a trade war scenario.—
Ivan Illan,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscurity. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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