obscure
/əbˈskjʊər/- 1.
Not well known to most people; only a very small number of people know about it. Something obscure is not famous or widely recognised.
- The professor quoted an obscure 16th-century philosopher.
- The band stayed obscure until one song went viral.
- He won the quiz by knowing an obscure fact about ancient Rome.
- 2.
Difficult to understand because it is not expressed clearly. Often used to describe writing, language, or reasoning that is hard to follow.
- The contract was full of obscure legal terms that confused everyone.
- The poem's meaning has remained obscure for centuries.
- His answer was so obscure that the examiner asked him to clarify.
To make something hard to see, understand, or notice. It can mean to physically block a view or to make an idea or truth unclear.
- Heavy fog obscured the mountain from our view.
- The report's jargon obscured its most important findings.
- Dense trees obscured the road sign completely.
Adinary Nuance
"Obscure" is often confused with "vague," "unknown," and "ambiguous," but each word has a distinct role. "Vague" means imprecise or lacking enough detail — a person can give a vague answer simply by not saying enough. "Obscure" implies that something is genuinely hard to understand, often because it is rare, complex, or deliberately hidden. "Unknown" means completely unheard of, while "obscure" suggests known by a very small number — an obscure film has some audience; an unknown film has none. As a verb, "obscure" differs from "hide" or "conceal," which usually suggest deliberate action; fog obscures a view without any intent behind it.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Ít được biết đến
- Spanish
- Oscuro
- Chinese
- 鲜为人知
- Japanese
- 無名の
- Korean
- 잘 알려지지 않은
Etymology
From Latin "obscurus," meaning "dark" or "covered over," which entered English in the late 15th century via Old French "obscur." The sense of "not well known" developed from the core idea of being in shadow or darkness.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'obscure' and 'vague'?
- 'Vague' means imprecise or lacking enough detail — like a vague instruction that doesn't tell you what to do. 'Obscure' means hard to understand because of complexity or rarity. A vague answer is unhelpfully brief; an obscure text is genuinely difficult even when you read it carefully.
- Can 'obscure' be used as both an adjective and a verb?
- Yes. As an adjective, it describes something not well known or hard to understand ('an obscure writer'). As a verb, it means to hide or make unclear ('fog obscured the road'). The context tells you which form is being used.
- Is 'obscure' a formal word? Can I use it in academic writing?
- 'Obscure' is perfectly suited to academic and IELTS writing. It has a formal, precise feel — much more so than 'hidden' or 'unclear.' Native academic writers use it freely in essays, research papers, and literary analysis.
- What is the noun form of 'obscure'?
- The noun form is 'obscurity.' It means the state of being unknown or unclear. For example: 'The poet lived in obscurity until after his death.' You can also use 'obfuscation' when referring to deliberate obscuring of information.