Abstruse: Definition & Meaning for the SAT
⚡️ ABSTRUSE most nearly means: (A) obvious; (B) difficult to understand; (C) absurd; (D) abstract. 👉 Answer + examples, pronunciation, and full SAT explanation inside.
TL;DR: Abstruse means difficult to understand or obscure. Not a common word! To remember, try: Dr. Seuss is NOT abstruse. (You should hear a rhyme in there.)
ℹ️ Part of Speech of Abstruse
abstruse is an ADJECTIVE.
🗣️ Pronunciation of Abstruse
abstruse is pronounced /æb.ˈstrus/ or ab-STROOS.
📚️ Definition of Abstruse
Difficult to understand; obscure, esoteric, or overly complex in meaning. Example: an abstruse legal argument that only experts can follow.
📰 Examples of Abstruse
Here are some examples of the word abstruse:
The abstruse explanation of string theory went completely over my head.
While Shakespeare's language can seem abstruse to modern readers, watching a good performance can make the meaning crystal clear.
My grandmother always complained that the instruction manual for her VCR was so abstruse that it might as well have been written in Klingon.
✅ Quiz answer
Answer to the question above:
B, difficult to understand. Explanations: A is the opposite—obvious means clear and easy to understand. C doesn't work; absurd means ridiculous or unreasonable, not hard to understand. D is tempting but incorrect; while abstract and abstruse sound similar, abstract means theoretical or conceptual, not necessarily difficult to understand.