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obfuscation


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\ˌäb-(ˌ)fəs-ˈkā-shən\ noun
— ob·fus·ca·to·ry\äb-ˈfəs-kə-ˌtȯr-ē, əb-\ adjective

Examples of OBFUSCATE

  1. Politicians keep obfuscating the issues.
  2. 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 — more at ob-, dusk
First Known Use: 1577

Related to OBFUSCATE

Rhymes with OBFUSCATE

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