ob·fus·cate
verb \ˈäb-fə-ˌskāt; äb-ˈfəs-ˌkāt, əb-\
ob·fus·cat·edob·fus·cat·ing
Definition of OBFUSCATE
transitive verb
1
a: darken
b: to make obscure <
obfuscate the issue>
2
: confuse <
obfuscate the reader>
intransitive verb
: to be evasive, unclear, or confusing
—
ob·fus·ca·tion noun
—
ob·fus·ca·to·ry adjective
Examples of OBFUSCATE
- Politicians keep obfuscating the issues.
- Their explanations only serve to obfuscate and confuse.
Origin of OBFUSCATE
Late Latin
obfuscatus, past participle of
obfuscare, from Latin
ob- in the way +
fuscus dark brown —First Known Use: 1577
Related to OBFUSCATE
Synonyms
becloud, befog, blur, cloud, fog, muddy, confuseAntonymsclarify, clear (up), illuminateRelated Wordscomplicate, perplex, sophisticate; entangle, snarl, tangle; disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disorder, disrupt, disturb, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, scramble, shuffle, tousle, upset
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