1 opaque | Definition of opaque
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

opaque

adjective
\ ō-ˈpāk How to pronounce opaque (audio) \

Definition of opaque

1 : blocking the passage of radiant energy and especially light : exhibiting opacity (see opacity sense 1)
2a : hard to understand or explain opaque prose
b : obtuse, thickheaded
Other Words from opaque Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about opaque

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from opaque

opaque noun
opaquely adverb
opaqueness noun

Examples of opaque in a Sentence

In the opening hour, a group of strangers receive a maddeningly opaque cell-phone summons to join a secret cross-country race with a $32 million prize. The thing is, the summons can also be a threat (one competitor's wife is possibly being help captive), and the consequences of falling behind are murderous. — Tom Gliatto, People, 23 Apr. 2007 The reality facing Rory Stewart was that he was sent into a collapsed rural region in a country of which he knew almost nothing, and in which he had to find his way through a maze of opaque tribal and religious relationships. — Robert Skidelsky, New York Review of Books, 5 Oct. 2006 Arborio rice, the kind that grows in the Po Valley and gave rise to the wonderful dish risotto, has a tiny opaque white pearl on the inside that remains al dente, and starch on the outside that the grains release during cooking, making a creamy sauce. — Corby Kummer, Atlantic, March 1993 the opaque water of the muddy river somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics
See More

Recent Examples on the Web

 The distinctions between bars, breweries, and brewpubs can be opaque to the casual visitor. — James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, "Bar wars: Proposal to limit activities in Alaska breweries and distilleries is the latest twist in a long regulatory evolution," 1 Sep. 2019 Season the fish with salt, then add to the simmering broth and poach until the fish is just opaque throughout, 2 to 4 minutes. — Los Angeles Times, "Bún Cá Kiên Giang: Vietnamese Fish and Shrimp Rice Noodle Soup," 21 Aug. 2019 But tech companies have been opaque in disclosing these practices to us. — New York Times, "Hi, Alexa. How Do I Stop You From Listening In On Me?," 21 Aug. 2019 The negotiation is also completely opaque to apps and OSes. — Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, "New Attack exploiting serious Bluetooth weakness can intercept sensitive data," 17 Aug. 2019 Its color is more opaque than apple juice and has a shorter shelf life of about 7 to 10 days refrigerated. — Julia Ludlam, Country Living, "What's the Difference Between Apple Cider and Apple Juice?," 16 Aug. 2019 The companies' privacy policies — usually long, dense documents — often permit the use of customer data to improve products and services, but the language can be opaque. — Rachel Lerman, chicagotribune.com, "Facebook paid contractors to transcribe audio clips from users of its Messenger service," 14 Aug. 2019 Cancellation decisions have been hard for creative partners to understand because viewership metrics have historically been opaque. — Natalie Jarvey, The Hollywood Reporter, "Netflix Under Pressure: Can a Hollywood Disruptor Avoid Getting Disrupted?," 8 Aug. 2019 Machine learning algorithms are often called black boxes, their inner workings shrouded in mystery, and the prepackaged versions can be even more opaque. — Matthew Hutson, Science | AAAS, "No coding required: Companies make it easier than ever for scientists to use artificial intelligence," 31 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opaque.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of opaque

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for opaque

Latin opacus — see opacity

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for opaque

opaque

adjective
How to pronounce opaque (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of opaque

: not letting light through : not transparent
: difficult to understand or explain

See the full definition for opaque in the English Language Learners Dictionary

opaque

adjective
\ ō-ˈpāk How to pronounce opaque (audio) \

Kids Definition of opaque

1 : not letting light through : not transparent
2 : not reflecting light : dull an opaque paint

opaque

adjective
\ ō-ˈpāk How to pronounce opaque (audio) \

Medical Definition of opaque

: exhibiting opacity : not pervious to radiant energy

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!