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
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Recent Examples of obscurity
With no tour or film on the horizon, the show was doomed to obscurity.
—
Joshua Barone, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Nvidia has seen some of the largest gains, rising from relative obscurity to briefly become the most valuable company in the world.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
Instead, the accomplishment faded into obscurity, unrecorded in our collective national memory.
—Cassidy Randall, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
Now we’re stuck with Healey, who is taking Warren’s route into obscurity, while we’re stuck with a $62 billion fiscal year 2026 budget proposal that needs a backup plan if federal dollars dry up.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Joshua Barone, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Nvidia has seen some of the largest gains, rising from relative obscurity to briefly become the most valuable company in the world.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
Instead, the accomplishment faded into obscurity, unrecorded in our collective national memory.
—Cassidy Randall, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
Now we’re stuck with Healey, who is taking Warren’s route into obscurity, while we’re stuck with a $62 billion fiscal year 2026 budget proposal that needs a backup plan if federal dollars dry up.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obscurity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscurity
Noun
-
Be sure to make these documents easy to access and refer to for reference, which will reduce ambiguity and misinterpretations.—
Liz Guthridge,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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This spring, the London theatre shimmers with this kind of ambiguity—real king, false king, portrait, mirror.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The national championship follows those back-to-back titles but — unlike those — was dragged out of oblivion.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Such a narrow escape from oblivion would have shocked his fellow-Romans.—
Daniel Mendelsohn,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This silence, in turn, helps contribute to a lack of significant action — both individually and socially, the researchers argue.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
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So witnessing my own professional society choose silence in this moment hit differently.—
Angel Algarin,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Now, the Trump administration intends to apply the penalties retroactively for up to five years—a move that could lead to fines exceeding $1 million, according to Reuters, which spoke to a senior official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential plans.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
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Those staff members have been furloughed until later in the year, the state of their future contracts unclear, according to a NOAA staffer speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.—
Alejandra Borunda,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscurity. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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