“Obtuse” describes something that is dull, slow to understand, or not sharp—either literally, like an angle that’s wider than 90 degrees, or figuratively, like a person who just isn’t picking up on what’s obvious.
In everyday talk, people often use it to tease or complain: “He’s being obtuse about the hint I dropped” means the guy won’t take the clue. You’ll also hear it in geometry class—“an obtuse triangle has one angle bigger than 90°”—and in movies when a character pretends not to see the emotional subtext everyone else catches.
Meaning & Usage Examples
“Stop acting obtuse—you know what I meant.”
“She gave him an obtuse reply that missed the point entirely.”
“That corner forms an obtuse angle, so the furniture fits easily.”
Context / Common Use
People reach for “obtuse” when someone seems stubbornly dense or when describing blunt shapes. It’s less formal than “obtunded” and more vivid than just saying “slow.”
Is “obtuse” always negative?
Usually, yes. It suggests someone is missing something obvious, but in geometry it’s neutral—just describes a wide angle.
What’s the opposite of obtuse?
“Acute” for angles (sharp, less than 90°) and “perceptive” or “sharp” for people who catch on quickly.
Leave a Reply