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

Relevance

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

The Blazers say a handshake agreement with Mayor Keith Wilson, the city and the county was made in March, and are confused why there has been a shift.

— Jason Quick, New York Times, 20 July 2026
The figure who experiences every prompt to begin the process as a threat rather than a relief has confused the cause with the self.

— Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026

Definition of confuse

Verb

Gros Morne National Park combines relatively dark skies with the deepest eclipse in eastern North America, with nearly half of the sun obscured at maximum.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 19 July 2026
Severely nearsighted, Isul wore eyeglasses with thick plastic lenses, which obscured her lovely, small eyes.

— Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

Definition of obscure

Verb

As fans of the comedian know, Ali G is a streetwise interviewer whose hip hop slang often bewilders guests such as Noam Chomsky, Andy Rooney and Newt Gingrich.

— Brent Lang, Variety, 7 July 2026
But these casting decisions are bewildering, to say the least, and will certainly cost the film ticket sales and potential revenue.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 July 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

As a makeup product, it can be used as a primer, highlighter, bronzer, foundation shade adjuster (pick a shade to darken or lighten a complexion product that’s a little bit off), and even a skin tint thanks to its sheer but transformative pigment.

— Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 20 July 2026
The Hapsburg Inspector General, the equivalent of the food inspector darkening the doorway of a scummy restaurant?

— Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of darken

Verb

Workers at Doherty Staffing Solutions were perplexed when strangers started calling the office in response to recruitment texts — texts the firm never sent.

— Bill Lukitsch, Boston Herald, 13 July 2026
The Wiener Kitchen diners weren’t the only Kansas Citians perplexed by this description.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026

Definition of perplex

Verb

In Eddington, Aster examines the absurdity of our present moment, further obfuscated by its mediation through screens.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Instead, Cubans turn to the internet, reading abroad what their government obfuscates or denies at home.

— Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 9 July 2026

Definition of obfuscate

Verb

Olsen first teased his relationship with Dockerty in October, soft-launching his new beau by blurring out his face in photos on social media.

— Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Both kinds of misconduct blur the line between a victim and perpetrator, experts in child protection said.

— Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 20 July 2026

Definition of blur

Browse Nearby Words

befitting

befog

befogged

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Befog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befog. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of befog

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

maverick

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes