obscurantism

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "obscurantism" is correct and usable in written English.
It is defined as the practice of deliberately preventing the facts or full details of something from becoming known. An example sentence would be: "The politician's obscurantism was evident in his refusal to answer any of the questions posed by the media."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whatever private successes it may have, it is more often in the news for reasons of obscurantism and protectionism protesting against the activities of foreign missionaries, for instance.

The Economist

Most of their anger is directed at what they see as the obscurantism and terror tactics of the Islamists, but some is saved for a government that yields to these tactics.A Cairo writer put it this way: "If the government would take a stand just once, it would help to settle the matter.

The Economist

Vandalising GM field trials is a bit like the campaign of some religious leaders to prevent smallpox inoculations: it causes misery, even death, in the name of obscurantism and unscientific belief.Follow your principlesAmerica takes little notice of this nonsense.

The Economist

They are, for the most part, a bunch of yahoo radical populists wallowing in racism, jingoism, intolerance, obscurantism, corporate lollipops galore, fiscal irresponsibility, executive abuse of power, and supine legislatures.

The Economist

"A theocratic state", she wrote in 1920, the year the ayatollahs revolted against the British, "is the very devil .The Yankees bowing to the beardsSo far the Americans have been careful to respect Shia tradition, hailing Mr Sistani as a force for good, not of obscurantism.

The Economist

Perhaps the wilful obscurantism and dreadful English that now afflict humanities faculties in Britain as elsewhere have eroded their influence outside the academy.

The Economist

"A critique of what I do", he said, "is indeed impossible".Related items Correction: Jacques DerridaNov 4th 2004 Charlemagne: Fear of AmericaJan 30th 2003There has always been a market for obscurantism.

The Economist

He said the world of science was still bruised by its encounter with organised religion in the shape of the Catholic church which persecuted brave giants like Galileo and Copernicus; this left science not just with a justified fear of religious obscurantism, but with a reluctance to look at physical reality, and at life in all its forms, as an interconnected whole.

The Economist

Like any priestly caste, Eurocrats display a streak of authoritarianism and obscurantism.

The Economist

His courtiers, feeling that the great secular push in Iran made it safe to attack what they saw as Khomeini's outdated obscurantism, published an attack on the exile, full of personal insults.

The Economist

So this land, although it has lived through periods of obscurantism and repression, was also one of the first to recognize the importance of tolerance and diversity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "obscurantism" to describe deliberate actions that prevent the spread of knowledge or understanding, often associated with ideological or political motives.

Common error

Avoid using "obscurantism" to describe a simple lack of knowledge. "Obscurantism" implies a deliberate effort to conceal or prevent access to information, not just a state of being uninformed.

Linguistic Context

Obscurantism primarily functions as a noun, referring to the practice of deliberately preventing the full details of something from becoming known. It characterizes actions or policies that aim to keep information obscure. As stated by Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "obscurantism" is a noun that describes the practice of deliberately preventing the discovery of facts. Ludwig AI confirms that it's correct and usable in English, and our analysis shows it's most commonly found in News & Media and Encyclopedias. When using this term, remember that it implies intentional action, distinguishing it from simple ignorance. Consider alternatives like "intentional obfuscation" or "resistance to enlightenment" depending on the context. Avoid using it to merely describe a lack of knowledge. It's a term best suited for neutral to formal discussions and is frequently employed by authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resistance to enlightenment

Specifically targets the opposition to the spread of knowledge and understanding.

intentional obfuscation

Highlights the deliberate act of making something unclear or unintelligible.

deliberate mystification

Highlights the intentional creation of mystery and confusion.

promotion of ignorance

Emphasizes the active encouragement of a lack of knowledge.

suppression of knowledge

Highlights the action of preventing knowledge from spreading or being accessed.

intellectual suppression

Focuses on the suppression of intellectual pursuits and freedom of thought, rather than a general opposition to enlightenment.

concealment of information

Focuses on the act of hiding or withholding facts.

anti-intellectualism

Reflects a general hostility towards intellectuals and intellectual pursuits.

promotion of dogma

Emphasizes the imposition of doctrine and ideology over critical thinking.

willful ignorance

Highlights the deliberate choice to remain uninformed.

FAQs

How to use "obscurantism" in a sentence?

You can use "obscurantism" to describe the deliberate act of making something difficult to understand or preventing knowledge from spreading. For instance, "The regime employed "obscurantism" to maintain control over the population by suppressing dissenting ideas".

What's the difference between "obscurantism" and ignorance?

"Obscurantism" refers to the practice of deliberately preventing the discovery of facts, while ignorance is simply a lack of knowledge. "Obscurantism" implies intentional action, whereas ignorance does not.

What are some synonyms for "obscurantism"?

Alternatives to "obscurantism" include "intellectual suppression", "intentional obfuscation", or "resistance to enlightenment", depending on the specific context.

What is the opposite of "obscurantism"?

The opposite of "obscurantism" would be transparency, clarity, or enlightenment, which represent the open and accessible dissemination of knowledge and information.