opaque
adjective
ō-ˈpāk 
1
: blocking the passage of radiant energy and especially light : exhibiting opacity (see opacity sense 1)
2
a
: hard to understand or explain
opaque prose
b
: obtuse, thickheaded
opaque noun
opaquely adverb
opaqueness noun
Synonyms
- ambiguous
- arcane
- cryptic
- dark
- deep
- Delphic
- double-edged
- elliptical
- elliptic
- enigmatic
- enigmatical
- equivocal
- fuliginous
- inscrutable
- murky
- mysterious
- mystic
- nebulous
- obscure
- occult
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
In the opening hour, a group of strangers receive a maddeningly opaque cell-phone summons to join a secret cross-country race with a $32 million prize. The thing is, the summons can also be a threat (one competitor's wife is possibly being held captive), and the consequences of falling behind are murderous. 
Tom Gliatto, People, 23 Apr. 2007 The reality facing Rory Stewart was that he was sent into a collapsed rural region in a country of which he knew almost nothing, and in which he had to find his way through a maze of opaque tribal and religious relationships. Robert Skidelsky, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006 Arborio rice, the kind that grows in the Po Valley and gave rise to the wonderful dish risotto, has a tiny opaque white pearl on the inside that remains al dente, and starch on the outside that the grains release during cooking, making a creamy sauce. Corby Kummer, Atlantic, March 1993 the opaque water of the muddy river somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics
Tom Gliatto, People, 23 Apr. 2007 The reality facing Rory Stewart was that he was sent into a collapsed rural region in a country of which he knew almost nothing, and in which he had to find his way through a maze of opaque tribal and religious relationships. Robert Skidelsky, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006 Arborio rice, the kind that grows in the Po Valley and gave rise to the wonderful dish risotto, has a tiny opaque white pearl on the inside that remains al dente, and starch on the outside that the grains release during cooking, making a creamy sauce. Corby Kummer, Atlantic, March 1993 the opaque water of the muddy river somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics Recent Examples on the Web The differences in language between Pérez’s version and the final policy are subtle and may be opaque to laypersons. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 His decision-making process is opaque to Western observers. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 2 Apr. 2022 As both a broker and seller of ad space, Google has some level of price-setting power in an opaque market. Daniel Tenreiro, National Review, 22 June 2021 The aim is to create the equivalent of a standard gold bar—a new benchmark for an industry that has struggled with the challenges of valuing esoteric stones in an opaque market. ... Amrith Ramkumar, WSJ, 21 Sep. 2020 Belichick has been opaque even by his substantial standards. Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Aug. 2022 With neither side in the conflict providing regular casualty updates, the toll in deaths and injuries remains opaque. Patrick J. Mcdonnell And Nabih Bulos, Anchorage Daily News, 5 June 2022 With neither side in the conflict providing regular casualty updates, the toll in deaths and injuries remains opaque. Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2022 But the fourth section, called K4 by fans, remains opaque. A.j. Jacobs, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2022 See More
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 His decision-making process is opaque to Western observers. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 2 Apr. 2022 As both a broker and seller of ad space, Google has some level of price-setting power in an opaque market. Daniel Tenreiro, National Review, 22 June 2021 The aim is to create the equivalent of a standard gold bar—a new benchmark for an industry that has struggled with the challenges of valuing esoteric stones in an opaque market. ... Amrith Ramkumar, WSJ, 21 Sep. 2020 Belichick has been opaque even by his substantial standards. Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Aug. 2022 With neither side in the conflict providing regular casualty updates, the toll in deaths and injuries remains opaque. Patrick J. Mcdonnell And Nabih Bulos, Anchorage Daily News, 5 June 2022 With neither side in the conflict providing regular casualty updates, the toll in deaths and injuries remains opaque. Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2022 But the fourth section, called K4 by fans, remains opaque. A.j. Jacobs, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin opacus — see opacity
First Known Use
1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing opaque
Kids Definition
opaque
adjective
ō-ˈpāk
1
: not letting light through : not transparent
2
: not reflecting light : dull
an opaque paint
Medical Definition
opaque
adjective
ō-ˈpāk
: exhibiting opacity : not pervious to radiant energy
opaque
adjective
1
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ambiguous
- cryptic
- dark
- obscure
- murky
- enigmatic
- mysterious
- mystic
- esoteric
- inscrutable
- vague
- unclear
- nebulous
- enigmatical
- questionable
- arcane
- equivocal
- occult
- deep
- obscurant
- uncertain
- elliptical
- confusing
- fuliginous
- complicated
- fuzzy
- abstruse
- invisible
- elliptic
- hazy
- shadowy
- shrouded
- impenetrable
- cloaked
- indistinct
- weird
- clouded
- shaded
- cloudy
- indecipherable
- recondite
- complex
- concealed
- incomprehensible
- masked
- indirect
- disguised
- difficult
- eerie
- undefined
- foggy
- indistinguishable
- obfuscatory
- muddy
- uncanny
- Delphic
- inexplicable
- misty
- double-edged
- dim
- faint
- inexact
- unknowable
- beclouded
- baffling
- obtuse
- perplexing
- indefinite
- impalpable
- puzzling
- mystifying
- intangible
- noncommittal
- bewildering
- sphinxlike
- undetermined
- befogged
- unanswerable
- inexplicit
- shadowlike
- unfathomable
- eery
- confounding
- inappreciable
- obscurantic
- bedimmed
- circuitous
- obnubilated
- roundabout
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clear
- plain
- obvious
- accessible
- unambiguous
- comprehensible
- intelligible
- understandable
- legible
- unequivocal
- bright
- knowable
- distinct
- pellucid
- certain
- evident
- strong
- nonambiguous
- visible
- sure
- straightforward
- firm
- defined
- explicit
- direct
- fathomable
- self-explanatory
- self-evident
- determined
- tangible
- definite
- exact
- appreciable
- blatant
- unmistakable
- palpable
- patent
2
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly an opaque remark that seemed to hint that there would be future retaliation Synonyms & Similar Words
- vague
- hazy
- murky
- obscure
- faint
- dark
- pale
- shadowy
- nebulous
- indistinct
- fuzzy
- undefined
- unclear
- blurry
- foggy
- gauzy
- indistinguishable
- misty
- dim
- invisible
- indefinite
- undetermined
- bleary
- dusky
- blear
- indecipherable
- mysterious
- incomprehensible
- gloomy
- impalpable
- indiscernible
- intangible
- obfuscatory
- inexplicable
- puzzling
- inappreciable
- hieroglyphic
- hieroglyphical
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clear
- pellucid
- plain
- obvious
- definite
- bright
- distinct
- evident
- certain
- strong
- sure
- firm
3
as in thick
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily people are sometimes rude to her, but fortunately she's too opaque to realize what's happening Synonyms & Similar Words
- thick
- stupid
- dumb
- dense
- slow
- simple
- dull
- soft
- obtuse
- vacuous
- ignorant
- dim
- idiotic
- foolish
- unintelligent
- fatuous
- dopey
- thickheaded
- silly
- irrational
- boneheaded
- doltish
- dunderheaded
- unreasonable
- pinheaded
- gormless
- airheaded
- softheaded
- insane
- witless
- brainless
- idiotical
- thick-witted
- dorky
- oafish
- mindless
- lamebrain
- senseless
- bonehead
- crazy
- mad
- dim-witted
- bubbleheaded
- brain-dead
- slow-witted
- absurd
- lunkheaded
- lamebrained
- empty-headed
- chuckleheaded
- unsmart
- knuckleheaded
- moronic
- half-witted
- dopy
- uninformed
- birdbrained
- weak-minded
- cretinous
- simpleminded
- dotty
- uneducated
- lunatic
- feebleminded
- fool
- imbecile
- unintellectual
- nutty
- lowbrow
- nonsensical
- illogical
- zany
- dippy
- unthinking
- illiterate
- daft
- imbecilic
- asinine
- invalid
- unwise
- wacky
- daffy
- looney
- untaught
- kooky
- preposterous
- cuckoo
- loony
- boobish
- sappy
- screwball
- fallacious
- balmy
- cockeyed
- featherheaded
- whacky
- half-baked
- crackpot
- harebrained
- tomfool
- kookie
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bright
- brilliant
- intelligent
- clever
- apt
- smart
- sharp
- nimble
- quick
- fast
- ingenious
- acute
- brainy
- insightful
- wise
- keen
- perceptive
- resourceful
- astute
- cerebral
- intellectual
- sagacious
- erudite
- savvy
- ultrasmart
- knowledgeable
- knowing
- thinking
- sage
- keen
- discerning
- scholarly
- literate
- skilled
- supersmart
- perspicacious
- hyperintelligent
- sharp-witted
- quick-witted
- cunning
- shrewd
- informed
- learned
- reasonable
- sound
- educated
- sensible
- wily
- percipient
- trained
- logical
- judicious
- highbrow
- prudent
- valid
- rational
- sapient
- crafty
- sane
- well-read
- foxy
- schooled