obtuse

/əb'tju:s/

Thân thiện

He drew an obtuse angle on the chalkboard.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slow to understand or perceive; lacking sharpness of intellect or sensitivity: Describes a person who is not quick to grasp ideas, often appearing dull or insensitive.
   • (Geometry) Of an angle: greater than 90° and less than 180°: Describes an angle that is wider than a right angle but less than a straight line.
   • (Botany, of a leaf) Having a rounded or blunt tip: Describes a leaf shape that is not pointed at the end.
   • Not sharp or pointed; blunt: Describes a physical object with a dull edge or point.

Usage and Examples

• Describing a lack of understanding:
  • He was being deliberately obtuse, refusing to see the obvious solution.
  • Her obtuse remarks showed she hadn't been listening to the discussion.
• Describing a geometric angle:
  • A triangle can have only one obtuse angle.
• Describing a physical object:
  • The obtuse blade made cutting the rope difficult.
• Describing a sensation:
  • He felt an obtuse, throbbing pain in his shoulder.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Willfully obtuse": This phrase emphasizes a deliberate choice to not understand or acknowledge something, often to avoid an issue or argument.
  • The politician was willfully obtuse when questioned about the scandal.
• In literary or formal criticism, "obtuse" can describe a lack of subtlety or insight in analysis.
  • The review was criticized for its obtuse interpretation of the film's symbolism.

Variants and Related Words

• Obtuseness (noun): The quality or state of being obtuse.
  • His obtuseness in social situations often led to misunderstandings.
• Obtusely (adverb): In an obtuse manner.
  • He stared obtusely at the complex diagram.

Synonyms

• Dull: Lacking sharpness of mind; slow to understand.
• Stupid: Lacking intelligence or common sense.
• Dense: Informal; slow to comprehend.
• Blunt: (For physical objects) Not having a sharp edge or point.
• Insensitive: Showing or feeling no concern for others' feelings.

Antonyms

• Acute: (For intellect) Quick to understand; sharp. (For angles) Less than 90°.
• Sharp: (For intellect) Quick-witted; perceptive. (For objects) Having a fine edge or point.
• Perceptive: Having or showing sensitive insight.
• Pointed: (For objects) Having a sharp tip.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary modern use relates to a lack of mental sharpness. The geometric and botanical meanings are more technical and specific to those fields.
• When describing pain, "obtuse" suggests a dull, persistent ache, as opposed to a sharp, acute pain. This usage is less common but correct.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
   • so dense he never understands anything I say to him
   • never met anyone quite so dim
   • although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick- Thackeray
   • dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
   • he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
   • worked with the slow students
2. lacking in insight or discernment
   • too obtuse to grasp the implications of his behavior
   • a purblind oligarchy that flatly refused to see that history was condemning it to the dustbin- Jasper Griffin
3. (of a leaf shape) rounded at the apex
4. of an angle; between 90 and 180 degrees

Từ đồng nghĩa

• dense
• dim
• dull
• dumb
• slow
• purblind