Obtusely for Dummies

Obtusely is a word that we use to describe how someone says or does something in a way that is not straightforward or clear. It's like when you try to explain something to someone, but you use a lot of big words and complicated explanations that make it hard for the other person to understand. You might be talking in a roundabout way, or giving a lot of extra information that isn't really necessary.

Imagine if you wanted to tell a friend how to get to your favorite ice cream shop. Instead of just saying, "Turn left at the corner, then go straight for three blocks," you start talking about all the different streets in the neighborhood and the history of the area. Sure, it might be interesting information, but it doesn't really help your friend find the ice cream shop, right? That's kind of like being obtuse.

There's another meaning of obtusely too. It can also mean that someone is acting in a way that shows they don't understand what's really going on, even if it seems obvious to everyone else. It's like when you tell a joke and someone just doesn't get it, even though it's really funny. They might laugh, but you can tell they don't really get the humor. That's being obtuse too.

So, when we say someone is acting obtusely, it means they are being indirect, unclear, or not understanding something that seems obvious to others. It's like talking in circles or not picking up on what's really going on. It's important to try to be clear and direct when talking to others so that they can understand us, and also to pay attention and try to understand what's happening around us.