obfuscate

[ ob-fuh-skeyt, ob-fuhs-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ob·fus·cat·ed, ob·fus·cat·ing.

1. to make unclear or hard to understand, especially deliberately:

   Do not obfuscate the issue with irrelevant detail.

   Synonyms: muddy, cloud

2. to confuse or bewilder:

   The authors achieve their purpose without obfuscating the reader by using too much technical terminology.

   Synonyms: perplex, muddle

   Antonyms: illuminate, clarify

3. to darken.

verb (used without object)

, ob·fus·cat·ed, ob·fus·cat·ing.

1. to make something unclear or hard to understand, especially deliberately; speak or write evasively or obscurely:

   Notice how she obfuscates when asked directly about her conversations with the defendant.

obfuscate

/ ˈɒbfʌsˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to obscure or darken
2. to perplex or bewilder

Derived Forms

• ˌobfusˈcatory, adjective

Other Words From

• ob·fus·ca·tion [ob-f, uh, -, skey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• ob·fus·ca·to·ry [ob-, fuhs, -k, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective
• un·ob·fus·cat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of obfuscate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin obfuscātus “darkened,” past participle of obfuscāre “to darken,” from Latin ob- ob- + fusc(us) “dark” + -āre, infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of obfuscate¹

C16: from Latin ob- (intensive) + fuscāre to blacken, from fuscus dark

Example Sentences

So this rhetorical invasion has been amplified to obfuscate where political rhetoric ends and where the law begins and ends in order to conflate the two.

From Slate

Trump will come loaded for bear and aim to do what he did in his earlier debate against Biden, lie and obfuscate to such an immense degree that viewers will only be aware of his messages.

From Salon

And it goes beyond political slogans, which are deliberately meant to obfuscate and draw would-be supporters in.

From Salon

Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump’s position on abortion has been to obfuscate.

From Slate

A president could simply shop around for a doctor willing to obfuscate in a medical report, for instance.

From Los Angeles Times