How to Pronounce Obtuse

To pronounce "obtuse", say OBT-us-e — 3 syllables, IPA /-ˈtʃuːs/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

obtuse

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/-ˈtʃuːs/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “obtuse”

"obtuse" has 3 syllables: obt-us-e. It rhymes with induce and produce, if that helps it stick.

What does obtuse mean?

verb

To dull or reduce an emotion or a physical state.

adjective

Blunt; not sharp, pointed, or acute in form.
Intellectually dull or dim-witted.

Synonyms

dense dim dim-witted thick blunt dull deadened muffled

Antonyms

clear sharp bright intelligent on the ball quick off the mark

Hear “obtuse” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with obtuse

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

induce produce nous use abstruse deduce reduce recluse douce abuse loose diffuse

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "obtuse"?▾

"Obtuse" has 3 syllables: obt · us · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "obtuse"?▾

The IPA transcription of "obtuse" is /-ˈtʃuːs/.

What does "obtuse" mean?▾

Obtuse: To dull or reduce an emotion or a physical state.

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