as in confusion
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1
as in confusing
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
an article for the layman that blurs the distinction between the two kinds of cholesterol
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obscuring
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
evening shadows blurred the view of the valley from the overlook
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Recent Examples of blurring
Naveen Kumar, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
However, a slight blurring of stars at the edge of the frame seems to betray the subtle motion of the spacecraft — or camera — over the course of the 10-second exposure.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Apr. 2026
In a couple of fleetingly brilliant moments, the director visualizes characters' discombobulation with aggressive blurring and dizzying superimpositions.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
How much of [that blurring divide] is his mental state?
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Online commenters pointed out obvious blurring on both images published by DHS.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 12 Mar. 2026
However, the blurring reportedly fails at times, leaving some identities visible.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
This charming blurring of lines is at the heart of the story, said Dinah Birch in the Times Literary Supplement.
—Alexandra Zagalsky, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
Greenidge also looks forward here to what is very much the most drastic of the post-COVID issues born of that time — the coming of artificial intelligence as a means for solving our problems, and what is looking more and more like a blurring of reality and simulacra.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Trump is no stranger to blurring the lines of religion and politics.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
The space also includes an artisanal chocolate fridge, further blurring the line between retail and lifestyle elements.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
While the South American festivals carry their own local identities, the programming continues to mirror the eclectic, genre-blurring approach that has defined Primavera Sound since its founding in 2001.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 11 May 2026
Income stacking can build new skills Gen Z workers are blurring the boundaries between personal and professional.
—Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 8 May 2026
The term one-way attack drone is somewhat vague, blurring the distinction between missiles and UAVs.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
And under the glowing sun of the Spanish island, time, as well as reality and fiction, suddenly seem to start blurring.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
This is a unique move from a smartphone maker, blurring the lines between mobile device and a professional lens system.
—New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
There’s a queerness to Mantello’s vision, including a blurring of gender associations that begins with its leads and radiates throughout, that ultimately drains the drama of its potency.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
However, a slight blurring of stars at the edge of the frame seems to betray the subtle motion of the spacecraft — or camera — over the course of the 10-second exposure.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Apr. 2026
In a couple of fleetingly brilliant moments, the director visualizes characters' discombobulation with aggressive blurring and dizzying superimpositions.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
How much of [that blurring divide] is his mental state?
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Online commenters pointed out obvious blurring on both images published by DHS.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 12 Mar. 2026
However, the blurring reportedly fails at times, leaving some identities visible.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
This charming blurring of lines is at the heart of the story, said Dinah Birch in the Times Literary Supplement.
—Alexandra Zagalsky, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
Greenidge also looks forward here to what is very much the most drastic of the post-COVID issues born of that time — the coming of artificial intelligence as a means for solving our problems, and what is looking more and more like a blurring of reality and simulacra.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Some brighten as the sky goes dark; others fade, their edges blurring.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Trump is no stranger to blurring the lines of religion and politics.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
The space also includes an artisanal chocolate fridge, further blurring the line between retail and lifestyle elements.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
While the South American festivals carry their own local identities, the programming continues to mirror the eclectic, genre-blurring approach that has defined Primavera Sound since its founding in 2001.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 11 May 2026
Income stacking can build new skills Gen Z workers are blurring the boundaries between personal and professional.
—Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 8 May 2026
The term one-way attack drone is somewhat vague, blurring the distinction between missiles and UAVs.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
And under the glowing sun of the Spanish island, time, as well as reality and fiction, suddenly seem to start blurring.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
This is a unique move from a smartphone maker, blurring the lines between mobile device and a professional lens system.
—New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blurring
Noun
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Constant changes and slow IRS guidance led to widespread confusion and, eventually, abuse that forced the IRS to put a moratorium on claims on September 14, 2023 until August 8, 2024.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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So there’s little doubt that the emergence of jumbo-size Messi’s across America’s lawns create more intrigue than confusion, even in a nation where soccer as a whole remains a second-tier sport.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans.—
Jill Lawless,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
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Clients hiring us for AI narrative work are under investor pressure to move fast, and the cost of confusing speed with substance will show up on their balance sheets.—
Kathleen Lucente,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Indeed, over the past several months, the Islamic Republic has responded to pressure not by simplifying its structure of authority, but by multiplying and obscuring the channels through which authority is exercised.—
Hamidreza Azizi,
Time,
9 May 2026
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Many slides are deteriorating – the mounting medium that holds the cover slips can yellow and crack with time, obscuring the specimens from view.—
Ingrid C. Romero,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
Verb
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Development sends runoff into bays, further clouding the water.—
Annika Hammerschlag,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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For Vuletic, the path out of the controversy clouding the contest has little to do with the rules.—
Andrew Jones,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Verb
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For a country that relies on crude oil and natural gas exports for a significant chunk of its budget revenue, these attacks are not only producing financial strain for the Kremlin but darkening the Russian people’s psychology as well.—
Daniel DePetris,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2026
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The shades of twilight in Badlands National Park would test the limits of a Crayola 64-pack—the darkening sky contrasted against multilayered rock formations changing colors in the dying light.—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
14 May 2026
Verb
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When The Star requested records related to ATO being placed on probation last year, the outcome letter KU provided was heavily redacted, completely obfuscating the narrative of the hazing allegations that university investigators found to be credible.—
Matthew Kelly
April 6,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
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The renderings, which showed an imposing new East Wing roughly a city block long, would be longer than the West Wing and almost completely obfuscating the view of the Treasury Building from the White House's South Lawn.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And Hanceville’s fate is as murky as the fog that pours in at night, blotting out buildings and blackening the road ahead.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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These tungsten atoms would then condense on the slightly cooler inside of the glass bulb, blackening it and dimming the light over time.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Assets worth at least $1 million — which includes the vast majority of real estate in San Francisco — are also grouped together, further muddying the picture.—
Alyce McFadden,
San Francisco Chronicle,
2 Apr. 2026
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Also muddying the outlook for an end to the crisis is uncertainty about what the United States is trying to achieve.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blurring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blurring. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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