1. Not clearly expressed or understood
   "an obscure turn of phrase"; "an impulse to go off and fight certain obscure battles of his own spirit";
   - vague
    
2. Marked by difficulty of style or expression
   "those who do not appreciate Kafka's work say his style is obscure";
   - dark
    
3. Not drawing attention
   "an obscure flaw";
   - unnoticeable
    
4. Not famous or acclaimed
   "an obscure family";
   - unknown, unsung
    
5. Difficult to find
   "an obscure retreat";
   - hidden
    
6. Remote and separate physically or socially
   "an obscure village";
   - apart, isolated, out on a limb

1. Make less visible or unclear
   "The stars are obscured by the clouds"; "the big elm tree obscures our view of the valley";
   - befog, becloud, obnubilate, haze over, fog, cloud, mist
    
2. Make unintelligible or unclear
   "The distinction was obscured";
   - bedim [archaic], overcloud
    
3. Make unclear, indistinct, or blurred
   "Her remarks obscured the debate";
   - confuse, blur, obnubilate
    
4. Make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or concealing
   "The heavy fog obscured the landscape";
   - blot out, obliterate, veil, hide
    
5. (linguistics) reduce a vowel to a neutral one, such as a schwa
   "In unstressed syllables, many English speakers obscure vowels to schwa"

Derived forms: obscured, obscurer, obscures, obscurest, obscuring

See also: concealed, incomprehensible, inconspicuous, inglorious, invisible, muddy, unclear, uncomprehensible, unconnected

Type of: alter, change, conceal, hide, modify, reduce

Encyclopedia: Obscure