as in esoteric
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand
geochemistry is a recondite subject
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Recent Examples of recondite
Other efforts required more recondite statistical analysis.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2023
Pierre Boulez — like Bernstein, a composer, though in a more recondite modernist mode — innovated with repertory mixtures and concert formats.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023
After describing the mummification process in recondite detail—not only why the brain was removed through the nose but how exactly natron dried out the rest of the body—the child drew an elaborate cartouche with the hieroglyphs used to spell my name.
—Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2022
Not to suggest that this is merely a specialist and recondite affair: Bessel van der Kolk, whose psychiatric work with trauma victims is predicated on the idea that neuroimaging can identify an objective physiological correlate to psychic distress, is one such semi-hard scientist.
—Will Self, Harper's Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for recondite
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2023
Pierre Boulez — like Bernstein, a composer, though in a more recondite modernist mode — innovated with repertory mixtures and concert formats.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023
After describing the mummification process in recondite detail—not only why the brain was removed through the nose but how exactly natron dried out the rest of the body—the child drew an elaborate cartouche with the hieroglyphs used to spell my name.
—Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2022
Not to suggest that this is merely a specialist and recondite affair: Bessel van der Kolk, whose psychiatric work with trauma victims is predicated on the idea that neuroimaging can identify an objective physiological correlate to psychic distress, is one such semi-hard scientist.
—Will Self, Harper's Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for recondite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recondite
Adjective
-
At first, users had to type to do things with files and programs, using esoteric commands to navigate up and down the directory structures that contained them.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
14 July 2025
-
After Congress reversed course on accountability in 2015, results for everyone got worse, even as progressive jurisdictions started adopting increasingly esoteric equity strategies.—
Matthew Yglesias,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Close to a third lose their job, and the social isolation can be profound.—
April Dembosky,
NPR,
22 July 2025
-
In 2012, Phyllis Barkman Ferrell experienced a profound irony.—
Juergen Eckhardt,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recondite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recondite. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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