abstruse

adjective

əb-ˈstrüs How to pronounce abstruse (audio)
Definition of abstrusenext
as in esoteric
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand you're not the only one who finds Einstein's theory of relativity abstruse

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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 abstruse So his analysis may wobble here and there on the abstruse particulars of, say, inference costs. — Tommy Craggs, Wired News, 27 Oct. 2025 Also, his estimate arose from abstruse economic formulas and lots of magic asterisks. — Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025 Into Breaking Its Own Rules To emphasize the importance of math, Winkler displayed a handful of abstruse equations. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025 Chess can seem abstruse and forbidding to the uninitiated, but Himelfarb’s account of it is as readable and comprehensible as any more familiar sports story—or, for that matter, any narrative in which a bunch of ambitious people pursue a single goal. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abstruse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstruse
  1. esoteric
  2. profound
Adjective
  • Afterwards, group members went on to form several other hugely meaningful outfits such as Slint, Gastr Del Sol, Bastro, Papa M and the For Carnation, transmuting Squirrel Bait’s Reagan-era aggression into more esoteric, impossible-to-classify sonic explorations.
    — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 June 2026
  • This offers the do-it-yourself warrior a simple, direct route from antiquated lead-acid to state-of-the-art lithium without having to search for esoteric parts online.
    — Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Definition of esoteric
Adjective
  • The client’s specific, unique facts can have a profound effect.
    — Karen Koehler, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
  • However, these signatures tell a profound story of evolving American finance.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of profound

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abstracts
abstruse
abstruseness
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Cite this Entry

“Abstruse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstruse. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on abstruse

Nglish: Translation of abstruse for Spanish Speakers

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