obtuse

What does “obtuse” mean?

noun.annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.

SAT Usage

the term is often found in passages discussing interpersonal relationships, communication, or intellectual discourse. It emphasizes a lack of awareness or sensitivity in social situations, distinguishing itself from words like "ignorant," which may imply a lack of knowledge rather than an active insensitivity or slowness to grasp emotional nuances.

Common Confusions

Obtuse implies a lack of sensitivity or awareness in social situations, while dense usually suggests a slow or difficult comprehension of information without the emotional insensitivity aspect.

Example Sentences

• The student was too obtuse to grasp the lesson's meaning.

Word Parts: How to Remember “obtuse”

Break “obtuse” into its parts: ob- (against, toward). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ob- against, toward (Latin)