Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who opposes the spread of knowledge: An "obscurant" is an individual who deliberately prevents or hinders the dissemination of information, education, or enlightenment, often to maintain control or power.
   • An advocate of obscurantism: This refers to someone who supports the doctrine that some knowledge should remain hidden or inaccessible to the general public.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The politician was accused of being an obscurant for censoring textbooks. (He opposed the spread of knowledge by restricting educational materials.)
  • Historians often label certain medieval rulers as obscurants because they suppressed scientific inquiry. (They hindered enlightenment and learning.)

Advanced Usage

• "to act as an obscurant": to behave in a manner that deliberately obstructs understanding or progress.
  • The corporation acted as an obscurant by hiding evidence of pollution. (It prevented the public from knowing the truth.)

Variants and Related Words

• Obscurantism (n): the practice of deliberately preventing the spread of knowledge or enlightenment.

  • The government's obscurantism kept citizens in ignorance. (The policy of suppressing information.)

• Obscurantist (adj/n): relating to or characteristic of an obscurant; a person who practices obscurantism.

  • His obscurantist views were criticized by educators. (His beliefs opposed open education.)

Synonyms

• Censurer: someone who suppresses information or ideas.
• Reactionary: a person who opposes political or social change, often by restricting knowledge.
• Anti-intellectual: a person hostile to education and learning.

Related Idioms

• Keep in the dark: to deliberately withhold information from someone.
  • The manager kept his team in the dark about layoffs, acting like an obscurant. (He prevented them from knowing the truth.)