Meaning
Usage

unyielding to persuasion or moral influences

Example: The obdurate old man refused to take pity on the kittens.

diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward

Example: Martin’s oblique language confused those who listened to him.

unclear, partially hidden

Example: Because he was standing in the shadows, his features were obscure.

no longer used, out of date

Example: With the inventions of tape decks and CDs, which both have better sound and are easier to use, eight-track players are now entirely obsolete.

noisy, unruly

Example: Billy’s obstreperous behavior prompted the librarian to ask him to leave the reading room.

instilling hatred or intense displeasure

Example: Mark was assigned the odious task of cleaning the cat’s litter box.

foreboding or foreshadowing evil

Example: The fortuneteller’s ominous words flashed through my mind as the hooded figure approached me in the alley.

characterized by rich abundance verging on ostentation

Example: The opulent furnishings of the dictator’s private compound contrasted harshly with the meager accommodations of her subjects.

highly elaborate, excessively decorated

Example: The ornate styling of the new model of luxury car could not compensate for the poor quality of its motor.

to sway from one side to the other

Example: My uncle oscillated between buying a station wagon to transport his family and buying a sports car to satisfy his boyhood fantasies.

excessively showy, glitzy

Example: On the palace tour, the guide focused on the ostentatious decorations and spoke little of the royal family’s history.

to render incomprehensible

Example: The detective did want to answer the newspaperman’s questions, so he obfuscated the truth.

lacking consciousness or awareness of something

Example: Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late.

excessively compliant or submissive

Example: Mark acted like Janet’s servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner.

not yielding easily, stubborn

Example: The obstinate child refused to leave the store until his mother bought him a candy bar.

lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect

Example: Political opponents warned that the prime minister’s obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.

offering one’s services when they are neither wanted nor needed

Example: Brenda resented Allan’s officious behavior when he selected colors that might best improve her artwork.

burdensome

Example: My parents lamented that the pleasures of living in a beautiful country estate no longer outweighed the onerous mortgage payments.

a speech delivered in a formal or ceremonious manner

Example: The prime minister was visibly shaken when the unruly parliament interrupted his oration about failed domestic policies.

conventional, conforming to established protocol

Example: The company’s profits dwindled because the management pursued orthodox business policies that were incompatible with new industrial trends.