obtuse

[ uhb-toos, -tyoos ]

adjective

1. not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull.

   Synonyms: unobservant, dim, slow, boorish, gauche, imperceptive, blind, insensitive, tactless, unfeeling

2. not sharp, acute, or pointed; blunt in form.
3. (of a leaf, petal, etc.) rounded at the extremity.
4. indistinctly felt or perceived, as pain or sound.

obtuse

/ əbˈtjuːs /

adjective

1. mentally slow or emotionally insensitive
2. maths
   1. (of an angle) lying between 90° and 180°
   2. (of a triangle) having one interior angle greater than 90°
3. not sharp or pointed
4. indistinctly felt, heard, etc; dull

   obtuse pain

5. (of a leaf or similar flat part) having a rounded or blunt tip

Derived Forms

• obˈtusely, adverb
• obˈtuseness, noun

Other Words From

• ob·tuse·ly adverb
• ob·tuse·ness noun
• sub·ob·tuse adjective
• sub·ob·tuse·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of obtuse¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin obtūsus “dulled,” past participle of obtundere, equivalent to ob- ob- + tūd-, variant stem of tundere “to beat” + -tus past participle suffix, with dt > s

Word History and Origins

Origin of obtuse¹

C16: from Latin obtūsus dulled, past participle of obtundere to beat down; see obtund

Example Sentences

The majority’s reasoning is so willfully obtuse that it would be funny if it weren’t so antidemocratic.

From Slate

His opinions may have been obtuse, but he was grounded in facts and reason.

From Salon

More than a few locations in the Shadow Realm, places that contain important story beats and powerful items, can be discovered only with a frustratingly obtuse progression of steps.

From New York Times

The obtuse nature of the conspiracy theory allowed people to assume whatever it is, it must be bad.

From Salon

It would be pretty obtuse if they had.

From Seattle Times