Merope never suppressed her magical abilities
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Obscuruses develop under highly specific circumstances, which don't appear to be satisfied by Merope's situation:

>**Newt:** Before wizards went underground, when we were still being hunted by Muggles, young wizards and witches sometimes tried to suppress their magic to avoid persecution. Instead of learning to harness or to control their powers, they developed what was called an Obscurus.

><sup>*Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* (2016)</sup>

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>An Obscurus is the repressed energy of a child who is forced to hide his or her magical talent. This energy can manifest itself as an entity on its own that can erupt in violent, devastating fury.

><sup>*Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Magical Movie Handboo*k "Beasts" The Obscurus</sup>

While Merope unquestionably suffered terrible abuse, she was never forced to suppress her use of magic; quite the opposite, in fact (emphasis mine):

>"Pick it up!" Gaunt bellowed at her. "That's it, grub on the floor like some filthy Muggle, **what's your wand for**, you useless sack of muck?"

><sup>*Half-Blood Prince* Chapter 10: "The House of Gaunt"</sup>