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obscure

ob·scure

obscure

 
 
pronunciation:
b skyuhr
parts of speech:
adjective, transitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, verb), Word Explorer
part of speech: adjective
inflections: obscurer, obscurest
definition 1: weakly or poorly illuminated.
He stumbled in the obscure hallway.
synonyms:
dark, dim
similar words:
black, dusky, gloomy, murky, somber, sunless, tenebrous, unlit
definition 2: appearing faint or indistinct.
We could just make out an obscure figure in the fog.
 
synonyms:
dim, faint, indistinct, vague
antonyms:
clear, plain
similar words:
hazy, imperceptible, indiscernible, nebulous, shadowy
definition 3: inconspicuous or little known.
He had been an obscure author before the publication of his fifth novel.I was born in an obscure little town along the coast.
synonyms:
inconspicuous, unrenowned
antonyms:
distinguished, famed, famous, notable, public, well-known
similar words:
hidden, insignificant, nameless, out-of-the-way, undistinguished, unheard-of, unsung
definition 4: not clear in expression or meaning; uncertain or ambiguous.
Her style of writing is at times obscure.
synonyms:
ambiguous, uncertain, unclear
antonyms:
apparent, clear, lucid, obvious
similar words:
abstruse, cloudy, cryptic, equivocal, esoteric, indefinite, muddy, murky, nebulous, opaque, vague
Word Combinations  About this feature
adverb + (adj.)obscure fairly, mostly, otherwise, rather, seemingly
(adj.)obscure + noun allusion, congressman, corner, cult, joke, journal, location, motive, novel, object, organism, phrase, provision, publication, reason, reference, singer, title, topic, village
 
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: obscures, obscuring, obscured
definition 1: to dim (perception) or conceal (something perceived).
Old age can obscure one's vision.A woman's large hat obscured our view of the screen.
synonyms:
bedim, eclipse, obstruct
antonyms:
enhance, reveal
similar words:
becloud, block, blot, blur, cloud, conceal, cover, darken, dim, fog, mask, occult, screen, shroud, weaken
definition 2: to make unclear in meaning.
The point of her remark was obscured by flowery phrases.
synonyms:
becloud, confuse, muddy, obfuscate
antonyms:
clear, illuminate, illumine
similar words:
befog, blur, evade, fog, perplex
Word Combinations  About this feature
adverb + (v.)obscure but, completely, deliberately, entirely, largely, momentarily, normally, often, partially, partly, previously, relatively, sometimes, somewhat, totally
(v.)obscure + nounHelp accomplishment, ambiguity, complexity, contribution, curtain, darkness, detail, distinction, existence, fact, feature, foliage, horizon, identity, insight, layer, mask, meaning, mountain, noise, origin, outline, passage, reality, reflection, shadow, sky, sun, terrain, truth, understanding, veil, view, vision, weakness  [See all][See only the most frequent]
derivations: obscuredly (adv.), obscurely (adv.), obscureness (n.)
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