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
Where at the beginning of the period, the boyish, figure-obscuring flapper dress was the au courant silhouette, by the end, fashion was shifting toward the more body-conscious bias cut.
—
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2026
This footage is overlaid with rapidly shifting colors via video synthesizer, obscuring our view, and an iris that periodically frames the runner.
—Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Condensation built up on the shop’s windows, obscuring the view from outside.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026
Jupiter, meanwhile, will shine high in the eastern sky, with the waxing gibbous moon below, obscuring the stars of the constellation Cancer with its reflected light.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Kaling has a strict policy around obscuring her kids’ faces in social media posts.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Part of the reason Bragg didn’t know is that South Carolina doesn’t require hospitals to report admissions for measles, potentially obscuring the disease’s severity.
—Jennifer Berry Hawes, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Instead, massive investment comes first, obscuring early gains.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
There are redactions all over, obscuring the names of those involved.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2026
This footage is overlaid with rapidly shifting colors via video synthesizer, obscuring our view, and an iris that periodically frames the runner.
—Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Condensation built up on the shop’s windows, obscuring the view from outside.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026
Jupiter, meanwhile, will shine high in the eastern sky, with the waxing gibbous moon below, obscuring the stars of the constellation Cancer with its reflected light.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Kaling has a strict policy around obscuring her kids’ faces in social media posts.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Part of the reason Bragg didn’t know is that South Carolina doesn’t require hospitals to report admissions for measles, potentially obscuring the disease’s severity.
—Jennifer Berry Hawes, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Instead, massive investment comes first, obscuring early gains.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
There are redactions all over, obscuring the names of those involved.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscuring
Verb
-
That contrast — a polished surface concealing something sinister — appears to define the show’s visual and emotional language.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
-
A day before the council met to discuss the new legislation, the Milwaukee Police Department modified its policies to explicitly prohibit officers from concealing their identity with face masks.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In one scene, someone holds up a phone showing the real footage of the Red Crescent workers that day, further blurring the lines between documentary and performance.—
Alexander Durie,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
-
In 2026, however, formulas are more playful, blurring the lines between lip care and flair—pairing the benefits of traditional ointments with the versatility of makeup.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps the Easter bunny got a little hungry after hiding all those eggs.—
Laura Fenton,
Parents,
5 Mar. 2026
-
From the dealmakers in the Polo Lounge to the celebs hiding away in the spacious bungalows, all manner of tastemakers and wannabes have stopped by the Pink Palace at some time or another.—
Tim Chester,
Robb Report,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The image was captured shortly after Earth's curved inner shadow began its slow journey across the lunar disk, darkening the lunar seas sprawling across the western portion of its surface.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Smoke from the fire could be seen from miles away, darkening the sky.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The trumpet creeper climbs by aerial roots to heights of 30 to 40 feet and will grow in the most challenging spots, covering an ugly wall, fence, or other structure in one growing season.—
Zoe Gowen,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
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Taking a job with the post office to support his growing family, Mosley in the 1950s worked side gigs writing for the Pittsburgh Courier and for the magazines Ebony, Sepia, and Jet, covering jazz and sports.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
Verb
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In Season 1, eight years after an unforgivable mistake nukes his promising college football career, hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday (Powell) tries to resurrect his dreams by disguising himself as Chad Powers — a talented oddball who walks on to the struggling South Georgia Catfish.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
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Carnival plays out in the movie’s background, adding life and music as well as disguising crimes perpetrated by those in power.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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 11 Mar. 2026.
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