BEFOG Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

befog

verb

bi-ˈfȯg

Definition of befog

as in to confuse

to make (something) unclear to the understanding the professor's convoluted explanation only befogged the textbook's presentation of this scientific principle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to obscure

to make dark, dim, or indistinct the morning murk befogged our view of the harbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to bewilder

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty completely befogged by the sudden change of subject

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of befog The detective blames Nichols, the self-aggrandizing adviser who convinced the Cabazons to build a casino, for conjuring the intrigue that continued to befog the case long after his death. — Andrew Rice, WIRED, 4 Feb. 2011

Recent Examples of Synonyms for befog

Verb

This reserve should not be confused with a permanent investment strategy.

— Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
The light entering my eyes would bend at two different angles, confusing my brain and making my vision a little blurry.

— E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of confuse

Verb

In the years since Shakur’s murder, what exactly happened in that hail of bullets -- and who pulled the trigger -- was obscured by a lack of physical evidence, feuding cops and the gangland code of silence.

— Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Once there, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf watch as the butterfly approaches the outstretched hand of a woman whose face is obscured, before the ominous presence crushes it in her hands.

— Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of obscure

Verb

That’s a common sentiment from a touring superstar, but there’s a sense that Kahan really might be as happily bewildered as the rest of us about how songs this personal and cloudy came to captivate even sunny California.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
The threats are constantly evolving, layering upon themselves with bewildering speed.

— Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of bewilder

Verb

But instead of sounding the alarm, defendants went out of their way to becloud the emerging scientific consensus.

— Edward Fitzpatrick, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2019
His flacks and surrogates hand out scraps of information grudgingly, infrequently, and beclouded by fragrant eructations of doublespeak.

— Charles Seife, Slate Magazine, 1 Mar. 2017

Definition of becloud

Verb

The sky darkened suddenly, as if it had been turned down by a dimmer switch, and Decoteau frowned at a weather app on his phone.

— Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
The funeral was held less than a week after her signature song served as the soundtrack at celebrations marking a total eclipse that darkened skies across parts of Europe.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of darken

Verb

Gibson Nash, 21, was charged with first-degree murder after a series of perplexing events eventually led police to his mother’s bloodied body.

— Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
The Brazil midfielder has expressed a desire to join Arsenal, but Newcastle did not want to sell him this summer and have been perplexed by the lack of direct contact from the London club.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of perplex

Verb

The lawsuit expanded on that, accusing the village of obfuscating the nature of the development during the earlier stages of approvals.

— Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
The revelation is the latest example of how engaging the technology — and obfuscating such use — can roil audiences eager to support new films.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of obfuscate

Verb

Combining archival and original footage, and blurring the categories of documentary essay and the poetic avant-garde, Pelechian’s visionary works revolve around a grand recurring theme of humankind’s tumultuous relationship to the natural world.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
But this summer, the lines between business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) marketing became increasingly blurred.

— Taylor Cheek-Mundy, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of blur

Browse Nearby Words

befitting

befog

befogged

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“Befog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befog. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of befog

verb

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