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 Rollerena seems to have understood this almost intuitively, resisting the slide into obscurity. — Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2026 He had been dressed as a woman among the king’s daughters in order to avoid participating in the Trojan War and ultimately his fate to die a young heroic death, as opposed to a long life of obscurity. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 2 July 2026 If not for the hole, Johnson may have remained in relative obscurity in Spring Grove, a graveyard where the city’s historical elite are interred next to people who never made it into the news. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026 The short version is that after defeating the Kilrathi at the climax of Wing Commander 3, Mark Hamill’s Christopher Blair retires to a backwater world to live out a life in peace and obscurity. — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscurity
  1. ambiguity
  2. oblivion
  3. mysteriousness
  4. silence
  5. anonymity
Noun
  • Leadership teams that are ready for change treat ambiguity as part of the job.
    — Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The report released last year from the Office of Performance Evaluations found the money’s use wasn’t addressed in state law, which led to inconsistencies and ambiguity on what it can be used for.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026
Definition of ambiguity
Noun
  • Within a few decades, the towns and their landmarks slid into oblivion, sometimes abandoned or, at best, struggling along.
    — Rebecca Treon, Parents, 18 June 2026
  • In the last episode, there’s a phone call with Frederick’s mother, who’s either in total denial or oblivion toward the situation.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 June 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
  • Kritzler, meanwhile, said his own offer to buy the arena was met with silence from the Oakland Acquisition Company.
    — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • What strikes Sonnenfeld most, however, is not the conduct itself but the silence surrounding it.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Definition of silence
Noun
  • Years on, living in Mumbai and retreating to the anonymity of the background row, she is gradually drawn back toward the stage.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • And the National Park Foundation’s president has told Congress that donors who request anonymity will not be disclosed, according to congressional Democrats.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of obscurity for Spanish Speakers

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