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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blurring
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
My guess is this is a small black bear, and blurring distorted the photo.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
After decades of minimalist, thin-rimmed glassware, the surrealist alternative makes sense within the pendulum swing toward maximalist design and the blurring of lines between art and the purely functional.
—Emily Johnson, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2025
In both cases, the performing and consuming elements get dialed up, leading to a subtle blurring of communities with audiences, of communication with content.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
This temporal blurring between past and present is echoed in the structure of the installation itself, which creates a kind of time loop between the two films, shuttling the viewer between the immediate danger of the war’s outbreak and the lingering trauma of its memory.
—Joanna Warsza, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
As much as the wren coming to adopt the birdhouse as its own, this was another blurring of the boundaries.
—Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Now there’s the new Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray, a weightless setting spray that acts like a blurring and mattifying powder.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
The camera was also capturing a growing blurring of the boundaries between the Japanese and Taiwanese urban elite in colonial society.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 13 Sep. 2025
Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Among other things, conservatives accused the consultancy of operating as a multibillion-dollar dark money ATM for left-wing causes, allowing foreign money to flow into American politics, and blurring the lines between charitable work and political advocacy.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Arizona is far from the only state in which line-blurring relationships among utilities, their investors, and regulators are the norm.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, wearables will continue to evolve beyond basic fitness tracking, blurring the lines with medical-grade devices.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Traditional lenses are limited to sharpening one focal plane (the distance between an object and your camera) at a time, blurring everything behind or in front of that object.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 29 Dec. 2025
But history has proven that blurring the lines between civilian and military assets can come at a high price.
—New Atlas, 28 Dec. 2025
During high water, tannic river water floods the run, blurring the boundary between river and spring.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
The same tools that are keeping some people connected to reality are blurring the lines of what is real for others.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Noun
The blurring of lines around belief seems to surface our barbaric gears.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
My guess is this is a small black bear, and blurring distorted the photo.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
After decades of minimalist, thin-rimmed glassware, the surrealist alternative makes sense within the pendulum swing toward maximalist design and the blurring of lines between art and the purely functional.
—Emily Johnson, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2025
In both cases, the performing and consuming elements get dialed up, leading to a subtle blurring of communities with audiences, of communication with content.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
This temporal blurring between past and present is echoed in the structure of the installation itself, which creates a kind of time loop between the two films, shuttling the viewer between the immediate danger of the war’s outbreak and the lingering trauma of its memory.
—Joanna Warsza, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
As much as the wren coming to adopt the birdhouse as its own, this was another blurring of the boundaries.
—Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Now there’s the new Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray, a weightless setting spray that acts like a blurring and mattifying powder.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
The camera was also capturing a growing blurring of the boundaries between the Japanese and Taiwanese urban elite in colonial society.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
The almost imperceptible pigment is an immediate boost of pore- and fine line-blurring prowess.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Among other things, conservatives accused the consultancy of operating as a multibillion-dollar dark money ATM for left-wing causes, allowing foreign money to flow into American politics, and blurring the lines between charitable work and political advocacy.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Arizona is far from the only state in which line-blurring relationships among utilities, their investors, and regulators are the norm.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, wearables will continue to evolve beyond basic fitness tracking, blurring the lines with medical-grade devices.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Traditional lenses are limited to sharpening one focal plane (the distance between an object and your camera) at a time, blurring everything behind or in front of that object.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 29 Dec. 2025
But history has proven that blurring the lines between civilian and military assets can come at a high price.
—New Atlas, 28 Dec. 2025
During high water, tannic river water floods the run, blurring the boundary between river and spring.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
The same tools that are keeping some people connected to reality are blurring the lines of what is real for others.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blurring
Noun
-
Toys are supposed to be fun and exciting for children, while some are also educational, but a few products aimed at kids have caused a wave of confusion among adults.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Clarity awaits amid confusion, Libra.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Canales-Pelaez said that local departments may be confusing administrative warrants with criminal ones, or overcomplying to avoid backlash from the state Legislature.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Among the factors hindering higher youth participation, CIRCLE research shows, include confusing registration deadlines and requirements, a lack of youth outreach and a dearth of regular curriculum that teaches young people about elections and voting in school.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This International Dark Sky Park, located in southwest Texas, is about a six-hour drive from San Antonio, the nearest city, so there won't be much light pollution obscuring your views of the constellations.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Yet this focus on the moment of capture risks obscuring the more consequential lesson.—
Cristina Guevara,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This weekend’s seismic upheaval in member nation Venezuela is the latest in a series of geopolitical pressure points spanning from Russia to Yemen that are also clouding the outlook.—
Grant Smith,
Fortune,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Covers resting directly on tabletops can trap moisture against the surface, causing water rings or finish clouding.—
Colleen Sullivan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Our planet is darkening too, as Earth's reflectivity, or albedo, is dropping to near-record lows due to melting ice and reduced snow cover that expose darker surfaces that absorb even more heat.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
29 Oct. 2025
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Farther up, on Observatory Hill, tall cryptomeria trees were silhouetted in the darkening evening, and down in the valleys, lights winked on like reflections of the planets and stars appearing in the sky.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The state says the foundation did this because Aerial Recovery, the nonprofit, had been obfuscating its name.—
Evan Mealins,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Some data types can be encrypted randomly, obfuscating enough of the data to stymie hackers—such as using only the last four digits of your credit to confirm your purchase identity.—
Srinivas Shekar,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Each footstep sent up clouds of dust and ash, coating everything, including my mouth and teeth, in fine grit, blackening my snot and saliva.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Injuries are muddying the market for players such as Coby White, who has played fewer than half of the games this season because of recurring calf injuries.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
-
But seen another way, this release is also optimally confusing, muddying the waters with as-yet-unverified information that’s being disseminated via individual screenshots on social media, making the whole thing easier to dismiss.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blurring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blurring. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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