Word forms: comparative obscurer, superlative obscurest, 3rd person singular presenttense obscures, present participle obscuring, past tense, past participle obscured
1. adjective
If something or someone is obscure, they are unknown, or are known by only a few people.
The origin of the custom is obscure.
The hymn was written by an obscure Greek composer.
Synonyms: unknown, minor, little-known, humble More Synonyms of obscure
2. adjective
Something that is obscure is difficult to understand or deal with, usually because it involves so many parts or details.
The contracts are written in obscure language.
Richard's statement was disgracefully obscure.
Synonyms: abstruse, involved, complex, confusing More Synonyms of obscure
3. verb
If one thing obscures another, it prevents it from being seen or heard properly.
Trees obscured his vision; he couldn't see much of the Square's southern half. [VERB noun]
One wall of the parliament building is now almost completely obscured by a huge banner. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: hide, cover (up), screen, mask More Synonyms of obscure
4. verb
To obscure something means to make it difficult to understand.
...the jargon that frequently obscures educational writing. [VERB noun]
This issue has been obscured by recent events. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: obfuscate [formal], confuse, cloud, blur More Synonyms of obscure
More Synonyms of obscure
obscure in British English
(əbˈskjʊə)
adjective
1.
unclear or abstruse
2.
indistinct, vague, or indefinite
3.
inconspicuous or unimportant
4.
hidden, secret, or remote
5.
(of a vowel) reduced to or transformed into a neutral vowel (ə)
6.
gloomy, dark, clouded, or dim
verb(transitive)
7.
to make unclear, vague, or hidden
8.
to cover or cloud over
9. phonetics
to pronounce (a vowel) with articulation that causes it to become a neutral sound represented by (ə)
noun
10. a rare word for obscurity
Derived forms
obscuration (ˌɒbskjʊˈreɪʃən)
noun
obscurely (obˈscurely)
adverb
obscureness (obˈscureness)
noun
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin obscūrus dark
obscure in American English
(əbˈskjʊr; ɑbˈskjʊr)
adjective
1.
lacking light; dim; dark; murky
the obscure night
2.
not easily perceived
; specif.,
a.
not clear or distinct; faint or undefined
an obscure figure or sound
b.
not easily understood; vague; cryptic; ambiguous
an obscure explanation
c.
in an inconspicuous position; hidden
an obscure village
3.
not well-known; not famous
an obscure scientist
4. Phonetics
pronounced as (ə) or ( (ɪ) ) because it is not stressed; reduced; neutral
said of a vowel
verb transitiveWord forms: obˈscured or obˈscuring
5.
to make obscure
; specif.,
a.
to darken; make dim
b.
to conceal from view; hide
c.
to make less conspicuous; overshadow
a success that obscured earlier failures
d.
to make less intelligible; confuse
testimony that obscures the issue
6. Phonetics
to make (a vowel) obscure
noun
7. Rare
obscurity
SYNONYMY NOTE: obscure applies to that which is perceived with difficulty either because it is concealedor veiled or because of obtuseness in the perceiver [their reasons remain obscure]; vague implies such a lack of precision or exactness as to be indistinct or unclear [a vague idea]; enigmatic, cryptic are used of that which baffles or perplexes, the latter word implying deliberateintention to puzzle [enigmatic behavior, a cryptic warning]; ambiguous applies to that which puzzles because it allows of more than one interpretation [an ambiguous title]; equivocal is used of something ambiguous that is deliberately used to mislead or confuse [an equivocal answer]
OPPOSITES: clear, distinct, obvious
Derived forms
obscurely (obˈscurely)
adverb
obscureness (obˈscureness)
noun
Word origin
OFr obscur < L obscurus, lit., covered over < ob- (see ob-) + IE *skuro- < base *(s)keu-, to cover, conceal > hide1, sky
Examples of 'obscure' in a sentence
obscure
The smog was so thick yesterday that tall buildings were obscured.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
My concern for majesty almost obscured my practice of mercy.
Christianity Today (2000)
It was simply not dense enough to obscure completely a truly dreadful match.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They often picked one of the more obscure meanings rather than the common required one.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is sound advice because thicker clouds obscure more stars.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
His calm style almost obscures the fact that his stories deal with only the most exciting medical scenarios.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The very language seems obscure, let alone the intent behind it.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Why should we pay for this obscure, difficult stuff for the fun of a few?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They were so high that in a profile shot, they completely obscured my face.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It seems to have been an afterthought, probably added to pep up interest in an obscure composer.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Pull up any obscure language, preferably with the patience and good humour that took you this far.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The old town, worth visiting for its own sake, has old but obscure origins.
Jepson, Tim Umbria - the green heart of Italy (1989)
Video footage is inconclusive, with another player obscuring the camera's view.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some of the names were obscured for legal reasons, but it included: v?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The lower limit is when the background becomes dim, obscuring the silhouette's outline.
Freeman, Michael Collins Complete Guide to Photography (1993)
Shut up then or, if you must, go and tend wild nature in odd obscure little corners called nature reserves.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
First, it is very difficult to decide what is "obvious": what one person understands clearly may be rather obscure to another.
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
She is in love with her subJect and has more appetite than I have for obscure architects and building plans but she writes superbly.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
obscure
British English: obscure ADJECTIVE
If something or someone is obscure, they are unknown, or are known by only a few people.
The origin of the custom is obscure.
American English: obscure
Brazilian Portuguese: obscuro
Chinese: 鲜为人知的
European Spanish: oscuro
French: obscur
German: unbekannt
Italian: oscuro
Japanese: よく知られていない
Korean: 잘 알려지지 않은
European Portuguese: obscuro
Latin American Spanish: oscuro
British English: obscure VERB
If one thing obscures another, it prevents it from being seen or heard properly.
Trees obscured his vision; he couldn't see much of the Square's southern half.