obliquity

noun

ō-ˈbli-kwə-tē How to pronounce obliquity (audio)
Definition of obliquitynext
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning her poetry is sure to satisfy those readers who readily confuse obliquity with profundity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obliquity Dedication sifts through the turmoil and joy of Mirah’s life with an intimacy rarely obscured by obliquity or metaphor. — Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026 Until now, it was thought that Earth's stable obliquity was maintained by the presence of our moon. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026 Because of these wobbles, Earth’s obliquity isn’t perfectly fixed. — Gongjie Li, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliquity
  1. ambiguity
  2. mysteriousness
Noun
  • Some of the most valuable skills, like leading through ambiguity, influencing others and solving tough problems, are built during challenging seasons.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Nonetheless, in the hallway outside of the courtroom, Shakur’s family exchanges hugs, happily shaking their heads that at least some of the darkness and ambiguity surrounding the murder has been lifted.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of ambiguity
Noun
  • That intrigue and mysteriousness still rest in the canyon walls today.
    — Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of mysteriousness

Browse Nearby Words

obliqueness
obliquity
obliterate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obliquity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliquity. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on obliquity

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obliquity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All