obscurity

noun

äb-ˈskyu̇r-ə-tē How to pronounce obscurity (audio)
Definition of obscuritynext
1
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning the 16th-century astrologer's predictions are so filled with obscurity that people can interpret them any way they want

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2
as in oblivion
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown the singer languished in relative obscurity for years before becoming famous

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3
as in mysteriousness
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain her novels were favored by gullible critics who confuse obscurity with profundity

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obscurity Dumped in theaters by Tianjin Yamazaki Film on August 5, the film had zero promotion beyond a single poster design, and initially seemed set to fade quietly into obscurity. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026 Well-known during his lifetime as a painter of grisailles, van Uylenburgh fell into obscurity after his death, which took place around 1627. — News Desk, Artforum, 19 Aug. 2026 Who Have Never Known Men existed in relative obscurity until 2022, when the English translation was reissued by Transit Books and its cause taken up by BookTok. — Air Mail, 15 Aug. 2026 Some of the coverage may be ugly and unfair, but isn’t obscurity worse? — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscurity
  1. ambiguity
  2. oblivion
  3. mysteriousness
  4. silence
  5. anonymity
Noun
  • That ambiguity is echoed in Banks’ score, which takes on the tone of a lament and a celebration, frustration and hope, struggle and liberation, the quest for transcendence in the face of the challenges posed by daunting inequities.
    — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Internet sleuths, predictably, have seized on this ambiguity as proof of malfeasance.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambiguity
Noun
  • And of his fascination in the idea that people might go on living after death, in oblivion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Third, each of these CEOs has focused on fixing operations rather than reaching for the tired but easier playbook of financial engineering, buybacks, and cost-cutting into oblivion.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of oblivion
Noun
  • That intrigue and mysteriousness still rest in the canyon walls today.
    — Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of mysteriousness
Noun
  • But one thing that is common for everyone is the silence that is quietly reshaping family life.
    — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Pros and cons of silence But many Fed watchers say that by saying nothing, the central bank encourages markets to speculate about its intentions.
    — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of silence
Noun
  • Sustained gunfire began past midnight at the premises of the Diori Hamani International Airport, which hosts a major military base, according to an AP witness who requested anonymity for safety reasons.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • If the newborn shows signs of abuse or neglect, however, anonymity may not be honored.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of anonymity

Browse Nearby Words

obscuring
obscurity
obsequies
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Cite this Entry

“Obscurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscurity. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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