Words / C1

un-uh-b-TROOS-iv/ˌʌnəbˈtruːsɪv/

Unobtrusive means not attracting attention; discreet: an unobtrusive rounding, unobtrusive methods. Discreet (already in the dictionary) is the close twin; quiet rounding is still a fiction.

Meaning

Not attracting attention; discreet (from discreet, already in the dictionary).

Examples

• “An unobtrusive rounding in the abstract is still a methods fiction.”
• “Discreet is already in this course. Inconspicuous is already in this course. Rounding is a slogan. A codebook line is methods. Write the raw number; then polish the abstract if the rule still allows it.”

Good to know

Not attracting attention. Close: discreet (already in the dictionary). Rounding ≠ a true n.

Near in meaning

discreet, inconspicuous, unnoticeable

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