WordValeobscurity
the state of being unclear
In more detail
1. (noun) the state of being unknown or not famous
2. (noun) the quality of being unclear or hard to understand
3. (noun) darkness or dimness
Examples
- 1. The small actor spent years in obscurity before becoming famous.
- 2. The obscurity of the poem made it difficult for students to interpret.
- 3. The figure emerged from the obscurity of the shadows.
How to use obscurity
Obscurity most commonly refers to lack of fame or recognition (a writer languishing in obscurity) or to the quality of being unclear or difficult to understand (the obscurity of his prose). It can also denote physical darkness but this sense is now somewhat archaic or literary. The word is often used in contexts discussing intellectual, artistic, or personal prominence.
Common phrases
- sink into obscurity
- emerge from obscurity
- relative obscurity
- shrouded in obscurity
- obscurity of origin
Synonyms
anonymity · obscureness · unclear · vagueness · dimness
Opposites
clarity · fame · prominence
Word family
obscure (adjective/verb) · obscurely (adverb) · obscurities (plural)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes treat obscurity as primarily negative or pejorative; it can be neutral or even positive depending on context (some artists prefer obscurity to fame).
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