1. A policy of opposition to the increase, enlightenment, or the spread of knowledge: The national educational policy specialized in obscurantisms, denying any public comments about the new textbooks that were being used.
2. The practice of withholding information from the people: The national government was accused of secrecy and political obscurantism regarding what happened during the military rescue of the person who was abducted by the terrorists.
3. A style in art and literature characterized by deliberate vagueness: A good writer avoids the use of obscurantisms so readers won't have to struggle to understand what he or she is trying to present.