Obtuse, which comes to us from the Latin word obtusus, meaning “dull” or “blunt,” can describe
an angle that is not acute or a person who is mentally
“dull” or slow of mind. The word has also developed a somewhat controversial sense of “hard to comprehend,” probably as a result of confusion with abstruse.
What does obtuse mean as an insult?
The adjective obtuse is good for describing someone slow on the uptake: “Don’t be so obtuse: get with the program!” The adjective obtuse literally means “rounded” or “blunt,” but when it’s used for a person, it means “
not quick or alert in perception
” — in other words, not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Is being called obtuse an insult?
Because that’s exactly what it is: a
next level insult disguised under
slightly fancier words. *Obtuse – Synonyms: stupid, slow-witted, slow, dull-witted, unintelligent, ignorant, simpleminded, witless; … A constructive criticism can be ‘insulting’, but this isn’t the same as a pure insult. >
Is obtuse rude?
As adjectives the difference between obtuse and rude
is that
obtuse is blunt
; not sharp while rude is bad-mannered.
Does obtuse mean vague?
“To most of the rest of the English-speaking world, obtuse means ‘blunt and insensitive,’
not ‘vague and unclear
.
What does emotionally obtuse mean?
In psychology, emotional detachment, also known as emotional blunting, has two meanings: one is
the inability to connect to others on an emotional level
; the other is as a positive means of coping with anxiety. … It refers to the evasion of emotional connections.
What does it mean when a person is pedantic?
Pedantic is an insulting word used to describe
someone who annoys others by correcting small errors
, caring too much about minor details, or emphasizing their own expertise especially in some narrow or boring subject matter.
What is an example of obtuse?
The definition of obtuse is something that isn’t sharp. An example of obtuse is
a child’s pair of scissors
. In mathematics, an angle greater than 90 degrees, but less than 180 degrees. … Obtuse is defined as a general and dull sensation.
How do you use the word obtuse?
- Are you so obtuse that you will give away all your money to a fake charity?
- The obtuse young man had a hard time understanding the simple instructions.
- If you do not pay attention in math class, you may feel obtuse during the final exam.
What does Apine mean?
opine oh-PYNE verb. 1 :
to express opinions
. 2 : to state as an opinion.
What is the opposite obtuse?
Opposite of blunt, not
sharp
.
acute-angled
.
acute
.
What does an obtuse triangle look like?
An obtuse triangle (or obtuse-angled triangle) is a triangle with one obtuse angle (greater than 90°)
and two acute angles
. Since a triangle’s angles must sum to 180° in Euclidean geometry, no Euclidean triangle can have more than one obtuse angle.
What is the synonym of obtuse?
The words
blunt and dull
are common synonyms of obtuse. While all three words mean “not sharp, keen, or acute,” obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination.
What is it called when someone is being vague?
Some common synonyms of vague are
ambiguous
, cryptic, dark, enigmatic, equivocal, and obscure. While all these words mean “not clearly understandable,” vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.
What does obtuse mean in Shawshank?
When applied to a person, obtuse means
stupid, lacking in perception or understanding
. In the movie The Shawshank Redemption, Andy uses the word in reference to the prison warden: Andy: How can you be so obtuse? Warden Norton: What? What did you call me?
