Obtuse
adjective
An angle that is more than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.
In a right triangle, one angle is 90 degrees and the other two are obtuse.
Often appears as...
- obtuse angle
- obtuse triangle
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Not quick or alert in perception, understanding, or intellect; not sensitive or observant.
Because he was being obtuse, he didn't realize the comment was a joke and took it seriously.
Often appears as...
- obtuse person
- being obtuse
adjective
Not sharp, pointed, or acute in any way.
He used an obtuse knife so that he wouldn't accidentally cut himself.
Often appears as...
- obtuse knife
- obtuse edge
adjective
An angle that is more than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.
In a right triangle, one angle is 90 degrees and the other two are obtuse.
Often appears as...
- obtuse angle
- obtuse triangle
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Not quick or alert in perception, understanding, or intellect; not sensitive or observant.
Because he was being obtuse, he didn't realize the comment was a joke and took it seriously.
Often appears as...
- obtuse person
- being obtuse
adjective
Not sharp, pointed, or acute in any way.
He used an obtuse knife so that he wouldn't accidentally cut himself.
Often appears as...
- obtuse knife
- obtuse edge
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Geometry Term
Used specifically in mathematics to describe angles greater than 90 degrees.
Could you draw an obtuse angle on the board?
Pro Tip 2/2Visually Identifiable
Usually looks wider than a right angle when drawn or seen.
That corner looks obtuse; it's definitely not 90 degrees.
Pro Tip 1/2Geometry Term
Used specifically in mathematics to describe angles greater than 90 degrees.
Could you draw an obtuse angle on the board?
Pro Tip 2/2Visually Identifiable
Usually looks wider than a right angle when drawn or seen.
That corner looks obtuse; it's definitely not 90 degrees.
Pro Tip 1/2Geometry Term
Used specifically in mathematics to describe angles greater than 90 degrees.
Could you draw an obtuse angle on the board?
Pro Tip 2/2Visually Identifiable
Usually looks wider than a right angle when drawn or seen.
That corner looks obtuse; it's definitely not 90 degrees.
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Video examples
Turning trash into toys...
This is called a cycle valve tube. When you pump in air in a bicycle, you use a bit of this. And some of these models -- so you take a bit of this cycle valve tube, you can put two matchsticks inside this, and you make a flexible joint. It's a joint of tubes. You start by teaching angles -- an acute angle, a right angle, an obtuse angle, a straight angle.
Video examples
Can you solve the...
Every time you make a cut that reaches an edge, it either makes an acute and an obtuse angle, or two right angles. That makes it seems like you’re doomed to keep creating obtuse angles. But as with so many of life’s problems, we can look to pizza for inspiration.
Video examples
Advocating for gender...
it's the best thing that's happened to the UN in our lifetime it might even change the culture of that obtuse intractable impenetrable male fortress
Video examples
Turning trash into toys...
This is called a cycle valve tube. When you pump in air in a bicycle, you use a bit of this. And some of these models -- so you take a bit of this cycle valve tube, you can put two matchsticks inside this, and you make a flexible joint. It's a joint of tubes. You start by teaching angles -- an acute angle, a right angle, an obtuse angle, a straight angle.
Video examples
Can you solve the...
Every time you make a cut that reaches an edge, it either makes an acute and an obtuse angle, or two right angles. That makes it seems like you’re doomed to keep creating obtuse angles. But as with so many of life’s problems, we can look to pizza for inspiration.
Video examples
Advocating for gender...
it's the best thing that's happened to the UN in our lifetime it might even change the culture of that obtuse intractable impenetrable male fortress
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Rich Eisen
American Journalist
I don't want to find out what celebrity X, who is a Browns fan, thinks of the zone blitz scheme. I don't think that's the sort of thing that I would even ask many people when they come on the show; it's very obtuse, even if they are an expert on football.
Quote examples
John Podhoretz
American Writer
Aside from being bad sportsmanship - Romney basically said Obama won by cheating - he was displaying the same obtuseness about the wants and needs of ordinary people that did more to torpedo his campaign than any goodies Obama might have had to dole out.
Quote examples
Patrick Stump
American Musician
As Long As I Know I'm Getting Paid' is a satire. Lyrically, I want to be direct. With my history in Fall Out Boy, there's some expectation that I'm going to be lyrically obtuse. But that song is a straight-faced satire of consumerism.
Quote examples
James Dyson
British Designer
What I often do is just think of a completely obtuse thing to do, almost the wrong thing to do. That often works because you start a different approach, something no one has tried.
Quote examples
Shea Hembrey
American Artist
I imagine explaining a work of art to my grandmother in five minutes, and if I can't explain it in five minutes, then it's too obtuse or esoteric.
Quote examples
Nicholas Haslam
English Designer
I have a thirst - it's an awful word, but I'm thirsty for knowledge. I like knowing things, the odder the better, the more obtuse the better.
Quote examples
Vikramaditya Motwane
Indian Director
Of course, you have to think of the audience. You cannot make an obtuse film that only appeals to a small niche section of the audience.
Quote examples
Ben Dolnick
American Writer
Literature is one of those realms in which giving out prizes can seem not merely dubious but positively obtuse.
Quote examples
Jewel
American Musician
I think when kids just see well-crafted poetry, it's just obtuse to them. It's hard to relate to.
Quote examples
Ralphie May
American Comedian
I'm honest, at the end of the day - I'm obese, but I'm not obtuse.
Quote examples
Rich Eisen
American Journalist
I don't want to find out what celebrity X, who is a Browns fan, thinks of the zone blitz scheme. I don't think that's the sort of thing that I would even ask many people when they come on the show; it's very obtuse, even if they are an expert on football.
Quote examples
John Podhoretz
American Writer
Aside from being bad sportsmanship - Romney basically said Obama won by cheating - he was displaying the same obtuseness about the wants and needs of ordinary people that did more to torpedo his campaign than any goodies Obama might have had to dole out.
Quote examples
Patrick Stump
American Musician
As Long As I Know I'm Getting Paid' is a satire. Lyrically, I want to be direct. With my history in Fall Out Boy, there's some expectation that I'm going to be lyrically obtuse. But that song is a straight-faced satire of consumerism.
Quote examples
James Dyson
British Designer
What I often do is just think of a completely obtuse thing to do, almost the wrong thing to do. That often works because you start a different approach, something no one has tried.
Quote examples
Shea Hembrey
American Artist
I imagine explaining a work of art to my grandmother in five minutes, and if I can't explain it in five minutes, then it's too obtuse or esoteric.
Quote examples
Nicholas Haslam
English Designer
I have a thirst - it's an awful word, but I'm thirsty for knowledge. I like knowing things, the odder the better, the more obtuse the better.
Quote examples
Vikramaditya Motwane
Indian Director
Of course, you have to think of the audience. You cannot make an obtuse film that only appeals to a small niche section of the audience.
Quote examples
Ben Dolnick
American Writer
Literature is one of those realms in which giving out prizes can seem not merely dubious but positively obtuse.
Quote examples
Jewel
American Musician
I think when kids just see well-crafted poetry, it's just obtuse to them. It's hard to relate to.
Quote examples
Ralphie May
American Comedian
I'm honest, at the end of the day - I'm obese, but I'm not obtuse.
Example 1 of 10
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