Make Your Point > Archived Issues > OBTUSE

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connect today's word to others: Remember this from geometry class? You'd label an angle as obtuse (greater than ninety degrees) or acute (less than ninety degrees). Today we're looking closely at obtuse, which describes a lack of sharpness in people, comments, and many other things--not just geometric angles. It's from Latin roots that mean "against" (ob-) and "beat" (tundere). To obtund something (like pain) is to blunt it, to deaden it, to make it less sharp--literally speaking, to beat against it. And something obtuse is dull, blunted, deadened--figuratively speaking, it's dumb, slow, stupid, or clumsy. (The word obtuse is related to contusion, meaning "a bruise.") So, speaking both literally and figuratively, obtuse is the precise opposite of acute. See if you can spell and pronounce the precise opposite of obtuseness: acu___ (or, if you prefer, just "acuteness"). (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "OBTUSE" Someone or something obtuse is not sharp: it's dull, slow, stupid, clumsy, or insensitive--in a way that annoys other people. Pronunciation: ob TOOSE Part of speech: Adjective: "an obtuse comment," "that was so obtuse." Other common forms: Obtusely, obtuseness. (We'll leave "obtund" and its related forms out of our discussion, since it's used only in medical contexts.) How to use it: Be careful: it's insulting to call people or things obtuse. You might talk about obtuse people and personalities, obtuse comments and questions, obtuse speech and language, obtuse expressions and gestures, obtuse misunderstandings, obtuse ideas and solutions, obtuse refusals and resistance, even obtuse creations: obtuse films, stories, albums, commercials, etc. You might say that someone is too obtuse to do something, or obtuse enough to do something: "he's too obtuse to understand that he's being rejected," "she's obtuse enough to think that joining a company is the same as starting her own business." examples: The poor guy was too obtuse to understand that "let's just be friends" means "I am not interested in dating you." "Many women must travel an hour or longer to find a hospital where they can deliver their babies. The blueprint for addressing the situation remains obtuse at best...The University of Wisconsin is launching the nation's first official obstetrics–gynecology residency program for 'very rural' areas... with only one resident expected for 2017."    — Dina Fine Maron, Scientific American,15 February 2017 study it: Explain the meaning of "obtuse" without saying "dull" or "dumb." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "Obtusely, (someone) (refused to, expected that, or responded that) _____." Example: "Obtusely, she refused to make the professor's suggested changes to the paper and resubmitted an identical copy of it." before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Controversial Catchphrases! This month, let's consider all kinds of important, ongoing controversies in our world. I'll give you a handful of key phrases that people use when they argue over a controversial question, and you try to pinpoint what that question is. I'll be drawing these issues and phrases from ProCon.org, a fantastic resource for understanding controversial issues (and for introducing those issues to your kids). From the previous issue: People who argue "yes" say things like "reduce deaths," "frequently stolen," and "prevent mass murder." People who argue "no" say things like "deters crime," "self-defense," and "invasion of privacy." What's the question? The question is, "Should more gun-control laws be enacted?" (Explore this issue at ProCon.org.) Try this one today: People who argue "yes" say things like "parent involvement" and "good study habits." People who argue "no" say things like "stress" and "sleep deprivation." People who argue either side say "association with gains in achievement." What's the question? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of OBTUSENESS is A. ACUMEN. B. BALEFULNESS. C. CHOP-LOGIC. 2. It was an obtuse attempt at _____. A. reverse psychology: it worked perfectly B. romance: a proposal that blocked traffic, causing accidents C. humor: an extraordinarily long joke, its punchline cuing uproarious laughter Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. B