1
as in concealing
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blurring
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of obscuring
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
The rise of high-frequency trading convinced us that everything is priced in instantly, obscuring pockets of friction.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Such data could yield a more precise way to measure lightning power unaffected by obscuring clouds.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
There is no code prohibiting masks or obscuring costumes at protests in Wisconsin.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The letter notes that VPN providers operate servers across the globe; a user can then choose which server to connect to, thereby obscuring their real IP address and accessing the internet from another country.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
Frankly, it’s been hard to keep up—and the BlackRock CEO wrote that the drama and uncertainty threatened by day-to-day headlines may be obscuring longer-term trends.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
The secretive giving is the latest example of how outside groups are obscuring their spending in competitive campaigns.
—Clara Ence Morse, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2026
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
The rise of high-frequency trading convinced us that everything is priced in instantly, obscuring pockets of friction.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Such data could yield a more precise way to measure lightning power unaffected by obscuring clouds.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
There is no code prohibiting masks or obscuring costumes at protests in Wisconsin.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The letter notes that VPN providers operate servers across the globe; a user can then choose which server to connect to, thereby obscuring their real IP address and accessing the internet from another country.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
Frankly, it’s been hard to keep up—and the BlackRock CEO wrote that the drama and uncertainty threatened by day-to-day headlines may be obscuring longer-term trends.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
The secretive giving is the latest example of how outside groups are obscuring their spending in competitive campaigns.
—Clara Ence Morse, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscuring
Verb
-
Misprision of felony involves someone knowing a felony was committed, and concealing it and failing to report it to authorities as soon as possible.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Just days before the child’s death, Supervisor Arenas had castigated agency officials for concealing a November status report from the state that listed unresolved concerns.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
16 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
-
The lawsuit alleged that Alden facilities often were staffed at just 50 percent of the legal requirements, then hiding it from regulators in part through ghost workers and false reports.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Stop hiding behind other people and just say it yourself.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the world's largest oil importer and a heavily export-reliant economy, China is vulnerable to an oil shock that's already slowing trade, pushing up factory costs, and darkening the outlook for the rest of the year.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
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The staggering human toll in Gaza, ongoing West Bank settlement expansion, another incursion into Lebanon, and a darkening war with Iran eroded support among younger Americans—even as Washington remains Israel’s indispensable security partner.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One of the people listening was an imposing but soft-spoken guy dressed in black, with a baseball cap nearly covering his eyes.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Shohei Ohtani bounced the first pitch to first baseman Troy Johnston, who fielded it and flipped the ball over the head of pitcher Ryan Feltner, covering first base.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Development sends runoff into bays, further clouding the water.—
ABC News,
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
Verb
-
Many of Joseph’s current defensive principles — disguising blitzers indistinguishably from players dropping back into coverage — are similar to what Cincinnati did a decade ago, under defensive coordinator Guenther.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Two struggling male musicians witness a mob murder and flee by disguising themselves as women in an all-female jazz band.—
Rick Mauch
April 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Obscuring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscuring. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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