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Glite Dictionary
obscurantism

obscurantism

1 9.9
A policy of making information hard to understand to stop people learning facts
  • noun
  • /ˌɑbskjʊəˈrænˌtɪzəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : obscurantismo
  • In its battle against obscurantism, oppression, injustice, and irrationality of every kind, there are no questions.
  • soft obscurantism

Examples

  • Without this privileged expression of freedom, man condemns himself to oppression, brutality, and obscurantism.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Electrons are there, one could say, against the cult of scientific obscurantism.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Today's destructive religious obscurantism is the worst of each, combined.

    Academic text (2003)

  • To resist or downplay efforts to determine historical fact, whatever one's reasons, is to choose obscurantism.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Instead of clear and rational discourse, one sees a wholesale retreat into fanatical obscurantism.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The government's obscurantism made it difficult for citizens to understand the new laws.

  • Critics argue that obscurantism in education hinders students from gaining essential knowledge.

  • In a society plagued by obscurantism, simple truths are often obscured from the public eye.

Synonyms

suppression
vsobscurantism
57 6.1

Stopping people from expressing opinions or practising traditions by force

is a policy opposing the spread of knowledge rather than only acts of control
obfuscation
vsobscurantism
  • Formal
12 8.7

Making something unclear or hard to understand on purpose

is a deliberate policy to prevent people learning factual information
concealment
vsobscurantism
8 5.0

Keeping something hidden or secret

is a public policy aimed at preventing learning rather than just hiding facts
obscuration
vsobscurantism
1 8.2

Something that stops you from seeing or understanding

is a systematic effort to stop the spread of knowledge rather than mere blocking

Antonyms

clarity
152 3.0

How easy it is to understand what someone says or writes

transparency
146 3.7

Being clear so people can see or understand how something works

enlightenment
22 5.1

Gaining new knowledge and understanding, often from study or experience

How Obstructive

obscurantism
  • Formal
1 9.9
censorship
119 4.8

Surface Forms

obscurantism singular
obscurantisms plural

Morphology

obscurantism = obscurant (semi-transparent) = obscure + ant + ism

The step from 'obscurant' (obscure + -ant) to 'obscurantism' by adding -ism is a regular formation naming a doctrine or practice.

Etymology

Obscurantism comes from a word meaning 'dark' or 'to darken', the same idea you see in obscure. So obscurantism is a way of keeping facts or ideas 'in the dark' on purpose, to stop people from learning.