as in confusing
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
irrelevant matters that only serve to obfuscate the fundamental issue of guilt or innocence
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Recent Examples of obfuscating
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
Srinivas Shekar, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obfuscating
Verb
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Since its creation in 2007, only about 2% of applicants had successfully received forgiveness before the pandemic, largely due to confusing eligibility rules and administrative mismanagement.—
Leadership Brainery,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Beneficiaries would have to verify their own identities by using an often-confusing web portal or by traveling to a field office to do it in person.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Oily to combination skin types can rejoice—blurring pigments combine with oil-absorbing kaolin clay for a long-lasting mattifying effect.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
15 Sep. 2025
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Supermodel Elton Ilirjani walked the runway, emphasizing the inclusive, boundary-blurring nature of Han’s collection.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Just with way worse WRs and a changing defensive landscape designed at taking away explosives and muddying the waters for offenses.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
15 Sep. 2025
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Further muddying the waters, Californians will likely have to parse dueling recommendations on vaccine use.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obfuscating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obfuscating. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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