1

I'm looking for an adjective defining "something that is not obvious to understand".

For example, in French, I would say "hermétique", which in English is synonym to airtight.

Improve this question

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
2

I first thought of "subtle" (which has its equivalent in French: subtil) but I think you are looking for "abstruse", which is something that's hard to understand, something obscure. Do we have a context for that word?

Improve this answer
3

Unintuitive would describe something that is not immediately apparent, but requires some study to understand or master.

Not intuitive, not easily graspable by intuition.

https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/unintuitive

Improve this answer
1

Opaque would probably work fairly well.

Improve this answer
0

Here are a few: complicated, confusing, ambiguous, blurred, obscure, perplexing.

I'd go with "unclear" - not obvious, definite, or easy to understand

Improve this answer
0

I just remembered another word that fits what I had in mind:

"Cryptic": having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.

Improve this answer
1

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .