1
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the 16th-century astrologer's predictions are so filled with obscurity that people can interpret them any way they want
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2
as in oblivion
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown
the singer languished in relative obscurity for years before becoming famous
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3
as in mysteriousness
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain
her novels were favored by gullible critics who confuse obscurity with profundity
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscurity
Without a solid marketing strategy, even the best products risk fading into obscurity.
—
Karan Sharma, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Some hardly get off the ground, while others raise money at lofty valuations before vanishing into obscurity.
—Jon Fortt,paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025
But in early April 1997, fax machines in Republican congressional offices spat out a message that ended this rule’s obscurity.
—Paul Kiel, ProPublica, 11 Dec. 2024
Some were catapulted into the limelight from relative obscurity and were soon juggling major awards ceremonies and lucrative studio deals.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obscurity 
Karan Sharma, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Some hardly get off the ground, while others raise money at lofty valuations before vanishing into obscurity.
—Jon Fortt,paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025
But in early April 1997, fax machines in Republican congressional offices spat out a message that ended this rule’s obscurity.
—Paul Kiel, ProPublica, 11 Dec. 2024
Some were catapulted into the limelight from relative obscurity and were soon juggling major awards ceremonies and lucrative studio deals.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obscurity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscurity
Noun
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The ruling opens the door to discovery on Paramount’s understanding of its deal with WBD and whether the company took fraudulent measures to take advantage of ambiguity in the contract.—
Winston Cho,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2025
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This state of ambiguity often leads to avoidance behavior, where people choose to stick with familiar but less desirable options because the unknown feels riskier.—
Tess Brigham,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In the north of the Gaza Strip, Palestinians picked their way through a devastated landscape of rubble and twisted metal that had been bombed into oblivion in the war's most intense fighting.—
Mohammed Salem,
USA TODAY,
20 Jan. 2025
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There's a clarion call across many industries today: Enterprises must transform or risk fading into oblivion.—
Thomas Lim,
Forbes,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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As 11-year-old Mason, Daniels embraces the film’s aesthetic, too, one that holds silences and honors stillness.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2025
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Practice slowing down speech cadence and embracing silence as a tool for clarity and emphasis.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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On Thursday, the National Women’s Soccer League awarded Denver the league’s 16th franchise at a record $110 million expansion fee, according to a person familiar with the deal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic details.—
Jessica Golden,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2025
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The fact is, anonymity in donor conception has been on shaky ground for a while.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near obscurity
Cite this Entry
“Obscurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscurity. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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