obscurity
Pronunciation: ub-SKYOOR-ih-tee
noun
Definition of obscurity
The state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or unimportant
Synonyms for obscurity
- anonymity
- insignificance
- darkness
obscurity in a Sentence
- The artist lived in obscurity for decades before her work was finally recognized.
Why obscurity Matters for GRE & SAT
"obscurity" is a noun that means "The state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or unimportant" closely related to words like "anonymity", "insignificance", "darkness". As a word starting with O, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.
On the GRE, understanding "obscurity" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "obscurity" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.
Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (noun). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "obscurity" into long-term memory.
How to Remember obscurity
One effective way to remember "obscurity" (noun) is to group it with similar words you already know: "anonymity" and "insignificance" and "darkness". When you encounter "obscurity" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "The state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or unimportant".
Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "obscurity" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.
Related Words
More Vocabulary Words Starting with O
- obdurate — stubborn; unyielding
- obdurate — stubborn; unyielding
- obeisance — reverence for an individual
- obeisance — reverence for an individual
- obfuscate — obscure or confuse
- obfuscate — obscure or confuse
- objective — Not influenced by personal feelings; based on facts
- objective — A thing aimed at or sought; not influenced by personal feelings
- objective — Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; impartial
- objective — Not influenced by personal feelings; based on facts