abstruse
difficult to understand; obscure
Word origin: From Latin abstrusus, concealed (abs- away plus trudere to push).
Abstruse in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing abstruse in a sentence.
The lecture grew so abstruse that even the graduate students were lost.
The lecturer's argument grew so abstruse that even the graduate students struggled to follow its later turns.
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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence
The treaty was hailed as a triumph of diplomacy, yet historians now regard its terms as blank, since they merely postponed the conflicts they claimed to resolve.
Using “abstruse” well
Abstruse describes ideas that are inherently hard to grasp because of their complexity, not because they are deliberately hidden. It differs from obtuse, which describes a person who is slow to understand.
More GRE words starting with A
to lower in rank, dignity, or self-respect
to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
to lessen in intensity or amount
to formally give up power or responsibility
departing from what is normal or expected
a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected
a state of temporary suspension or inactivity
to regard with strong disgust or hatred
Questions about “abstruse”
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