OBSCURED Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

obscured 1 of 2

adjective

as in darkened

being without light or without much light an obscured area of the prison yard that was the perfect escape route

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obscured

2 of 2

verb

past tense of obscure

as in concealed

to keep secret or shut off from view the investigative reporters obscured their real motives for visiting the company by pretending the story was about something else

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in blurred

to make dark, dim, or indistinct when it isn't obscured by smog, the view of the city from the observatory can be spectacular

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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 obscured

Adjective

Across Britain, where the sun was more than 90% obscured, people flocked to hilltop parks and anywhere with an open view of the sky to see the best eclipse since 1999. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 On this year’s summer solstice, a group of volunteers gathered to tend to the obscured orchard atop one of the Figueroa Street Tunnels. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 For one thing, near-infrared light can pass through thin clouds, so an obscured sky wouldn't prevent communication. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 June 2026 Earl Hindman scored the role of Wilson, the Taylor's wise (and facially obscured) neighbor, on Home Improvement, appearing in 203 episodes of the series. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026 In some cases, apps disclose the behavior, often in small or obscured print. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026 However, sources say the tour’s production is working at improving the areas with obscured sightlines. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 19 May 2026 But the specifics, the why behind each decision, the next move waiting around the corner – those remain deliberately obscured. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026 The interior worlds of these women remain obscured and their motivations go unexplored. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026

Verb

The view offered by legal testimony, however, is still partially obscured. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026 The eye-popping financial and human costs of post-9/11 security have obscured other consequences. — Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026 Scaffolding was being taken down Tuesday after workers over Labor Day weekend removed a shroud that had obscured the work. — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Zegarra, burly, with a friendly smile partially obscured by a mustache, is the documentary’s director. — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 His occasional free-agent splurges obscured an organizational myopia that left his team with scant investments in staffing, analytical advancements and technological necessities. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The sun was obscured by leaden clouds, but the glare was strong. — Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026 Though partially obscured, the back of the jacket also seems to feature the name of the alien biker gang spelled out in silver studs. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026 Many of her photographs were attributed to Capa, which obscured her contribution once Friedmann adopted the name for himself alone. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscured

Adjective

This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026

Definition of darkened

Verb

The employees concealed the actions using third-party vendors and false invoices.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The machines were designed to detect non-metallic weapons, explosives and other threats concealed under layers of clothing that might evade traditional metal detectors.

— Mark Morales, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of concealed

Verb

Still recovering from knee surgery, Phillips held binoculars in one hand, peering down from a booth so high jersey numbers blurred into guesswork.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
His films, all of which have been critically and commercially successful, have long blurred the lines between the aspirations of the art house and the pleasures of the grind house.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of blurred

Adjective

But the situation remains murky and operations are cumbersome, with rescuers digging by hand.

— Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
And yet the nugget of knowledge from his vast experience of traversing 120 yards (110 metres) via two 60-yard lengths in a trench – dug 4ft deep and 3ft wide in a Welsh field – filled with murky, mucky river water is not a tip about technique.

— Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of murky

Verb

Before construction began, the lot of land was flat and covered with vegetation.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
During the breakfast event, the walls of Sarabande’s main gallery were covered with custom artwork curated by Sarabande’s House of Bandits, a retail concept that helps sell Sarabande’s artists’ work.

— Mary Wenthur, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of covered

Verb

The two London clubs’ transfer dealings got off to a controversial start with Ashley Cole’s infamous move from Arsenal, a deal clouded by accusations of tapping up and considerable hostility.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Still, money clouded the conversation in the commissioners’ room Wednesday.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of clouded

Adjective

As Florian Wirtz was substituted during Liverpool’s 2-2 opening day draw at Newcastle United, the German midfielder sat on the bench, retrieved a bottle of dark red liquid, and began to drink.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In this version, the couple has moved from Chicago to London for a fresh start—bad things happened in Chicago—and the set features a wide town house with dark corners and William Morris wallpaper.

— Anna Russell, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of dark

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obscured

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“Obscured.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscured. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of obscured

adjective

verb

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