1
as in obscuring
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
the diner's dark interior, clouded with smoke and grease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in confusing
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
cloud the issue with obscure statistics
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 clouding
Development sends runoff into bays, further clouding the water.
—
ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Bond traders are grappling with unusually high levels of volatility, which is clouding the outlook for interest rate policies at the Bank of England and European Central Bank.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Oil prices have surged this month, raising concerns about energy inflation, clouding the outlook for central banks and posing headwinds for stocks.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
The war, now nearing the one-month mark, has raised concerns about inflation and slowing industrial activity across the world, clouding the demand outlook for metals.
—Bloomberg, 26 Mar. 2026
But uncertainty surrounding the war with Iran -- and its impact on energy prices -- is clouding the outlook for the labor market.
—Paul Wiseman, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
The mail-in registration complication Further clouding the picture are other possible provisions of the new bill.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
Both are common refrains, but at the time, Hall struggled to see past the fog clouding his future.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
The attorney general’s statement offered little clarity, further clouding an incident that has already generated significant international speculation.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Bond traders are grappling with unusually high levels of volatility, which is clouding the outlook for interest rate policies at the Bank of England and European Central Bank.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Oil prices have surged this month, raising concerns about energy inflation, clouding the outlook for central banks and posing headwinds for stocks.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
The war, now nearing the one-month mark, has raised concerns about inflation and slowing industrial activity across the world, clouding the demand outlook for metals.
—Bloomberg, 26 Mar. 2026
But uncertainty surrounding the war with Iran -- and its impact on energy prices -- is clouding the outlook for the labor market.
—Paul Wiseman, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
The mail-in registration complication Further clouding the picture are other possible provisions of the new bill.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
Both are common refrains, but at the time, Hall struggled to see past the fog clouding his future.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
The attorney general’s statement offered little clarity, further clouding an incident that has already generated significant international speculation.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clouding
Verb
-
To make your windows sparkle, make sure there are no smudges obscuring the spring sunlight.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Thick or layered clouds can violate flight rules by obscuring visibility and increasing the risk of lightning strikes triggered by the rocket’s ascent.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But Neptune also blurs lines, which is why its influence can feel mysterious or even confusing at times.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not all that’s confusing across the first season.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Its Silk Serum Tinted Moisturizer Foundation is weightless and blurring, according to an editor.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The end of the day blazed orange, the distant shapes of the Aran islands blurring on the horizon.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The film has also helped resuscitate a dwindling population of ticket-goers hoping for a feel-good escape-hatch picture in the midst of darkening times and popcorn machines.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The image below shows the SLS freeing itself of Earth, hauling the Artemis 2 mission to the darkening skies above Florida.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
Why are my car windows fogging up on the inside?—
John Paul,
The Providence Journal,
6 Mar. 2026
-
De-Fog Mirrors Before getting in the shower and using shampoo on your hair, use shampoo to prevent your bathroom mirror from fogging up from the shower’s humidity.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The amount also varies over time, further complicating the estimates.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
But that also added another, complicating layer to the pseudo-friendship the two had off screen.—
Alex Ross,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clouding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clouding. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
