deliberately obtuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deliberately obtuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is intentionally being unclear or difficult to understand in their communication. Example: "His response to the question was deliberately obtuse, leaving everyone confused about his true intentions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

I like to think of these commenters as sweetly naive rather than deliberately obtuse.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When will the deliberately obtuse stop taking George Osborne, pictured, out of context?

Independent

He would consider deliberately obtuse a person who recognized the one God but denied his latest revelation.

The New York Times - Books

Online applications are made deliberately obtuse in the hope that frustrated applicants will give up along the way.

The Guardian - Business

Unions have filed lawsuits to close down online charter schools, including what looks like a deliberately obtuse proposal to limit enrolment at such virtual schools to those who live in their districts.These concerns are not completely unfounded.

The Economist

And it's true; there's something about the is-she-or-isn't-she-a-feminist way the Mayer debate has been framed (and even about the way Mayer herself has participated in it) that feels almost deliberately obtuse.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Given that Allied forces had just bombed Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki and inflicted hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties, for the British to get on a high horse about a bombing that was timed deliberately to cause minimum loss of life is not only hypocritical but morally obtuse.

Forbes

Just obtuse?

The New York Times

Don't be obtuse.

The New York Times

These representational biases may not be deliberately enforced, but with every minority– or gender-related scandal that rocks the film industry – from Oscars So White to Harvey Weinstein – it becomes increasingly obtuse to ignore them.

The Guardian - Film

"So obtuse," Spencer said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deliberately obtuse" when you want to emphasize that someone is being intentionally difficult to understand or is feigning ignorance to avoid a topic or responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "deliberately obtuse" when someone is genuinely confused or lacks understanding. The phrase implies a conscious choice to be unclear or difficult.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deliberately obtuse" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a quality of intentional obscurity or lack of understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it follows standard grammar rules and serves to characterize someone or something as intentionally difficult to understand.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "deliberately obtuse" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that describes intentional lack of clarity or understanding. As Ludwig AI highlights, the expression is effective for criticizing or questioning someone's evasiveness or feigned ignorance. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, showing its relevance in describing complex situations. When employing this term, remember to reserve it for situations where there is a strong suspicion of intentional obfuscation, and use alternatives like "intentionally vague" or "purposely unclear" when a less accusatory tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intentionally vague

Focuses on the lack of clarity being intentional.

purposely unclear

Highlights the deliberate nature of the lack of clarity.

willfully ignorant

Emphasizes the conscious choice to ignore or disregard information.

intentionally evasive

Highlights the intent to avoid providing a direct or clear answer.

playing dumb on purpose

Suggests a feigned ignorance or lack of understanding.

feigning incomprehension

Describes the act of pretending not to understand something.

being deliberately evasive

Focuses on the act of avoiding the question or topic.

affecting ignorance

Implies a pretense of not knowing something.

obfuscating on purpose

Highlights the intent to make something obscure or unclear.

being obtuse by design

Suggests that the obtuseness is a planned strategy.

FAQs

How can I use "deliberately obtuse" in a sentence?

You can use "deliberately obtuse" to describe someone's response, behavior, or explanation that is intentionally unclear or difficult to understand. For example, "His response was "deliberately obtuse" to avoid answering the question directly".

What is a less formal way to say "deliberately obtuse"?

Less formal alternatives include "intentionally vague", "purposely unclear", or "playing dumb on purpose".

Is there a difference between "deliberately obtuse" and "unintentionally obtuse"?

"Deliberately obtuse" implies a conscious effort to be unclear or difficult to understand, whereas "unintentionally obtuse" suggests a genuine lack of clarity or understanding without intent.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "deliberately obtuse"?

Use "deliberately obtuse" when you suspect or know that someone is intentionally avoiding clarity, either to mislead, evade a question, or create confusion. The term is best used when you have evidence or strong suspicion of intentional obfuscation.