obtuse

adjective
UK: /əbˈtjuːs/
US: /əbˈtuːs/

  1. Slow to understand, or not intelligent.

    1. He is too obtuse to take a hint.
    2. Sometimes I think my boss is being deliberately obtuse; he asks the most obvious questions.

  2. Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.

    1. Don't be so obtuse! Just apologize.
    2. Is he always this obtuse, or is he putting it on for my benefit? He is just so insensitive.

Synonyms

dull slow-witted thick stupid dense blunt unintelligent insensitive
obtuse adjective

  1. Having an angle greater than 90° and less than 180°.

    1. An obtuse angle is bigger than a right angle.
    2. The roof of the house was designed with an obtuse angle to maximize space inside the attic.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "obtuse" in English means: Slow to understand, or not intelligent., Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand..

The phonetic transcription of "obtuse" is /əbˈtjuːs/ in British English and /əbˈtuːs/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "obtuse": dull, slow-witted, thick, stupid, dense, blunt, unintelligent, insensitive.

Example usage of "obtuse": "He is too obtuse to take a hint.". More examples on the page.