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obtuse

ob·tuse
O o

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [uh b-toos, -tyoos]
    • /əbˈtus, -ˈtyus/
    • /əbˈtjuːs/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [uh b-toos, -tyoos]
    • /əbˈtus, -ˈtyus/

Definitions of obtuse word

  • adjective obtuse not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull. 1
  • adjective obtuse not sharp, acute, or pointed; blunt in form. 1
  • adjective obtuse (of a leaf, petal, etc.) rounded at the extremity. 1
  • adjective obtuse indistinctly felt or perceived, as pain or sound. 1
  • noun obtuse Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand. 1
  • adjective obtuse person: slow witted 1

Information block about the term

Origin of obtuse

First appearance:

before 1500
One of the 26% oldest English words
1500-10; < 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

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Obtuse

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

obtuse popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 81% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

obtuse usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for obtuse

adjective obtuse

  • insensitive — deficient in human sensibility, acuteness of feeling, or consideration; unfeeling; callous: an insensitive person.
  • dull-witted — mentally slow; stupid.
  • simple-minded — free of deceit or guile; artless or unsophisticated.
  • imperceptive — not perceptive; lacking perception.
  • stupid — lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; dull.

Antonyms for obtuse

adjective obtuse

  • astute — If you describe someone as astute, you think they show an understanding of behaviour and situations, and are skilful at using this knowledge to their own advantage.
  • bright — A bright colour is strong and noticeable, and not dark.
  • intelligent — having good understanding or a high mental capacity; quick to comprehend, as persons or animals: an intelligent student.
  • pointed — having a point or points: a pointed arch.
  • quick — done, proceeding, or occurring with promptness or rapidity, as an action, process, etc.; prompt; immediate: a quick response.

Top questions with obtuse

  • what is an obtuse angel?
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  • how many degrees is an obtuse angle?
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  • what is obtuse?
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  • what is a obtuse triangle?
  • why cant a triangle have more than one obtuse angle?
  • what does the word obtuse mean?
  • how can you be so obtuse?
  • what is the definition of obtuse?
  • what does an obtuse angle look like?
  • how many degrees is a obtuse angle?

See also

Matching words

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