befog

[ bih-fog, -fawg ]

verb (used with object)

, be·fogged, be·fog·ging.

1. to envelop in fog or obscurity; becloud:

   Low-hanging clouds befogged the city.

2. to render unclear; confuse by irrelevancies or distractions:

   Petty differences befogged the legislators' task.

   Synonyms: obfuscate, muddle, blur, confound

befog

/ bɪˈfɒɡ /

verb

1. to surround with fog
2. to make confused, vague, or less clear

Word History and Origins

Origin of befog¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; be- + fog ¹

Example Sentences

After adding befog, we’ve guessed more than three letters for more than 96 percent of all puzzles we might face in Wordle, in four guesses.

From Slate

There are nine consonants we haven’t guessed yet; in descending order of how often they appear in words where we haven’t guessed three or more letters, they are G, B, F, K, V, Q, Z, X, and J. Only two words contain at least three of them: befog and vibex.

From Slate

Erdogan’s main objective, to befog with theater when he can’t hide the reality, hasn’t wavered.

From Forbes

And, lest you still think I befog the question, permit me to add that the minimum weekly wage of the woman employee in Macy's today is $14.00; and the average pay—apart from that of the executives and sub-executives—the men and women who, in the store's own nomenclature, are classed as "specials" and exempted from the time-disc record of their comings and their goings—is $25.00.

From Project Gutenberg

The object of writing a book is not to befog the reader's mind.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amaze
• astonish
• astound
• befuddle
• bewilder
• confound
• dazzle
• distract
• dizzy
• dumbfound
• flabbergast
• muddle
• mystify
• overwhelm
• paralyze
• perplex
• petrify
• puzzle
• startle
• stun