Definition

Something that is hard to understand or very complex.

Example

The professor's lecture on quantum mechanics was so abstruse that many students struggled to follow along.

Conversation

Have you ever read anything really abstruse?

Yeah, I tried to read a philosophy book once and it was so confusing!

I feel the same way; sometimes the language is just too abstruse for me to grasp.

Exactly! I prefer something more straightforward that I can actually enjoy.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Abstruse is derived from the Latin 'abstrusus' (meaning hidden or concealed), which comes from 'ab-' (meaning away) and 'trudere' (meaning to push). The word describes something that is pushed away from understanding, hence difficult to comprehend or obscure.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'pushed away' from understanding — 'ab-' means away, and 'trudere' means to push, which helps you remember that 'abstruse' refers to something hard to grasp.

Visually Confused Words