Obscure vs. Cryptic — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Obscure and Cryptic
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Compare with Definitions
Obscure
Deficient in light; dark
The obscure depths of a cave.
Cryptic
Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure
He found his boss's utterances too cryptic
Obscure
So faintly perceptible as to lack clear delineation; indistinct
An obscure figure in the fog.
Cryptic
(of coloration or markings) serving to camouflage an animal in its natural environment
Cryptic plumage is thought to minimize predation
Obscure
Indistinctly heard; faint.
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Cryptic
Having hidden meaning; mystifying.
Obscure
(Linguistics) Having the reduced, neutral sound represented by schwa (ə).
Cryptic
Secret or occult.
Obscure
Far from centers of human population
An obscure village.
Cryptic
Using code or cipher.
Obscure
Out of sight; hidden
An obscure retreat.
Cryptic
(Biology) Tending to conceal or camouflage
Cryptic coloring.
Obscure
Not readily noticed or seen; inconspicuous
An obscure flaw.
Cryptic
Having hidden (unapparent) meaning.
Obscure
Of undistinguished or humble station or reputation
An obscure poet.
An obscure family.
Cryptic
Mystified or of an obscure nature.
Obscure
Not clearly understood or expressed; ambiguous or vague
Some say that Blake's style is obscure and complex.
Cryptic
Involving use of a code or cipher.
Obscure
To make dim, indistinct, or impossible to see
"His face was obscured in shadow" (Rosemary Mahoney).
Cryptic
Of a crossword puzzle, or a clue in such a puzzle, using, in addition to definitions, wordplay such as anagrams, homophones and hidden words to indicate solutions.
Obscure
To make difficult to discern mentally or understand
The meaning of the text was obscured by its difficult language.
Cryptic
(zoology) Well camouflaged; having good camouflage.
Lonomia caterpillars are extremely cryptic.
Obscure
To diminish the stature of; overshadow or detract from
"[His] character was so repellent that it has obscured his historical role" (David Rains Wallace).
Cryptic
(zoology) Serving as camouflage.
Cryptic colouring
Obscure
(Linguistics) To reduce (a vowel) to the neutral sound represented by schwa (ə).
Cryptic
Apparently identical, but actually genetically distinct.
Cryptic species
Obscure
Something obscure or unknown.
Cryptic
(zoology) Living in a cavity or small cave.
Obscure
Dark, faint or indistinct.
Cryptic
(informal) A cryptic crossword puzzle.
Obscure
Hidden, out of sight or inconspicuous.
Cryptic
Hidden; secret; occult.
Obscure
Difficult to understand.
An obscure passage or inscription;
The speaker made obscure references to little-known literary works.
Cryptic
Incomprehensible to those not familiar with the culture or jargon; as, the new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms.
Obscure
Not well-known.
Cryptic
Having a secret or hidden meaning; as, cryptic symbols engraved in stone; cryptic writings.
Obscure
Unknown or uncertain; unclear.
The etymological roots of the word "blizzard" are obscure and open to debate.
Cryptic
Having a puzzling terseness; as, a cryptic note.
Obscure
(transitive) To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to keep in the dark; to hide; to make less visible, intelligible, legible, glorious, beautiful, or illustrious.
Cryptic
Not evident; unrecognized; as, a cryptic infection.
Obscure
(transitive) To hide, put out of sight etc.
Cryptic
Written in a code or cipher; as, a cryptic message.
Obscure
To conceal oneself; to hide.
Cryptic
Of an obscure nature;
The new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms
A deep dark secret
The inscrutible workings of Providence
In its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life
Rituals totally mystifying to visitors from other lands
Obscure
Covered over, shaded, or darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim.
His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Cryptic
Having a secret or hidden meaning;
Cabalistic symbols engraved in stone
Cryptic writings
Thoroughly sibylline in most of his pronouncements
Obscure
Of or pertaining to darkness or night; inconspicuous to the sight; indistinctly seen; hidden; retired; remote from observation; unnoticed.
The obscure birdClamored the livelong night.
The obscure corners of the earth.
Cryptic
Having a puzzling terseness;
A cryptic note
Obscure
Not noticeable; humble; mean.
Obscure
Not easily understood; not clear or legible; abstruse or incomprehensible; as, an obscure passage or inscription.
Obscure
Not clear, full, or distinct; clouded; imperfect; as, an obscure view of remote objects.
Obscure
To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to keep in the dark; to hide; to make less visible, intelligible, legible, glorious, beautiful, or illustrious.
They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne's oak, with obscured lights.
Why, 't is an office of discovery, love,And I should be obscured.
There is scarce any duty which has been so obscured by the writings of learned men as this.
And seest not sin obscures thy godlike frame?
Obscure
To conceal one's self; to hide; to keep dark.
How! There's bad news.I must obscure, and hear it.
Obscure
Obscurity.
Obscure
Make less visible or unclear;
The stars are obscured by the clouds
Obscure
Make unclear, indistinct, or blurred;
Her remarks confused the debate
Their words obnubilate their intentions
Obscure
Make obscure or unclear;
The distinction was obscured
Obscure
Make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or concealing;
A hidden message
A veiled threat
Obscure
Make difficult to perceive by sight;
The foliage of the huge tree obscures the view of the lake
Obscure
Not clearly understood or expressed;
An obscure turn of phrase
An impulse to go off and fight certain obscure battles of his own spirit
Their descriptions of human behavior become vague, dull, and unclear
Vague...forms of speech...have so long passed for mysteries of science
Obscure
Marked by difficulty of style or expression;
Much that was dark is now quite clear to me
Those who do not appreciate Kafka's work say his style is obscure
Obscure
Difficult to find;
Hidden valleys
A hidden cave
An obscure retreat
Obscure
Not famous or acclaimed;
An obscure family
Unsung heroes of the war
Obscure
Not drawing attention;
An unnoticeable cigarette burn on the carpet
An obscure flaw
Obscure
Remote and separate physically or socially;
Existed over the centuries as a world apart
Preserved because they inhabited a place apart
Tiny isolated villages remote from centers of civilization
An obscure village
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