There’s a lot to understand about obtuse, so we’ll get straight to the point. Obtuse comes from a Latin word, obtusus, meaning “dull” or “blunt.”

OBTUSE definition: not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull. See examples of obtuse used in a sentence.

He has been obtuse, difficult, totally irrational and unreasonable to the detriment of the whole of his country.

Someone who is obtuse has difficulty understanding things, or makes no effort to understand them. I've really been very obtuse and stupid.

The adjective obtuse literally means "rounded" or "blunt," but when it's used for a person, it means "not quick or alert in perception" — in other words, not the sharpest tool in …

Apr 5, 2026 · The term "obtuse" originates from Latin, where it means "blunt" or "dull." In contemporary language, it is used to describe someone who is perceived as slow to …

1. not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; insensitive; dull. 2. not sharp, acute, or pointed; blunt. 3. (of a leaf, petal, etc.) rounded at the extremity. 4. indistinctly felt …

Apr 20, 2026 · Adjective obtuse (comparative obtuser or more obtuse, superlative obtusest or most obtuse) (now chiefly botany, zoology) Blunt; not sharp, pointed, or acute in …

Find 46 different ways to say OBTUSE, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

Jan 22, 2026 · Discover what does obtuse mean in slang, its origins, usage tips, and the funniest ways it appears online. A lively and meme-friendly guide for savvy readers.