Obtuse - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Obtuse describes someone who is slow to understand or deliberately insensitive. It can also refer to an angle between 90 and 180 degrees, wider than a right angle.
Definition:
Slow to understand, lacking sharpness or intelligence; also describing an angle between 90 and 180 degrees.
Synonyms:
dull, stupid, slow-witted, dense
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
sharp, acute
Common Collocations:
obtuse angle, obtuse remark, obtuse response
Derivatives:
obtuseness, obtusely
Usage Tips:
Use "obtuse" to describe someone slow to grasp ideas or an angle wider than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.
Common Phrases:
obtuse angle, being deliberately obtuse
Etymology:
From Latin *obtusus*, meaning "blunted" or "dull," from *obtundere* ("to beat against").
Examples:
- 1. The teacher sighed at the student's obtuse question.
- 2. He drew an obtuse angle on the board.
- 3. Her obtuse remarks frustrated everyone in the meeting.
- 4. The politician's answer was deliberately obtuse to avoid criticism.
- 5. The triangle had one right angle and one obtuse angle.