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
Acoustics specialists crafted special sound and lighting apparatus that would capture the sound correctly without obscuring the ceiling.
—
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
The event has been criticized as promoting Christian nationalism and obscuring the lines separating church and state.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 17 May 2026
Breaking up or obscuring the reflection makes the glass visible to birds, preventing them from hitting your windows.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Sheets of fog hung low in the sky, obscuring what stars there might have been, haloing the streetlamps.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Indeed, over the past several months, the Islamic Republic has responded to pressure not by simplifying its structure of authority, but by multiplying and obscuring the channels through which authority is exercised.
—Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 9 May 2026
Many slides are deteriorating – the mounting medium that holds the cover slips can yellow and crack with time, obscuring the specimens from view.
—Ingrid C. Romero, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s landmark castle, which acts as a screen for the production, has been in refurbishment — with scaffolding and tarp obscuring the view.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Records provided to The Star about the Alpha Tau Omega case were heavily redacted, obscuring the specific allegations against fraternity members.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
The event has been criticized as promoting Christian nationalism and obscuring the lines separating church and state.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 17 May 2026
Breaking up or obscuring the reflection makes the glass visible to birds, preventing them from hitting your windows.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Sheets of fog hung low in the sky, obscuring what stars there might have been, haloing the streetlamps.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Indeed, over the past several months, the Islamic Republic has responded to pressure not by simplifying its structure of authority, but by multiplying and obscuring the channels through which authority is exercised.
—Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 9 May 2026
Many slides are deteriorating – the mounting medium that holds the cover slips can yellow and crack with time, obscuring the specimens from view.
—Ingrid C. Romero, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s landmark castle, which acts as a screen for the production, has been in refurbishment — with scaffolding and tarp obscuring the view.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Records provided to The Star about the Alpha Tau Omega case were heavily redacted, obscuring the specific allegations against fraternity members.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscuring
Verb
-
Some have turned away from the sky—the internet has popularized a theory that UFOs are hidden in the ocean, concealing their existence by submerging their crafts deep below the water.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
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If convicted, Lineberger faces up to 20 years in prison on the falsification charge, up to three years for concealing or removing public records, and up to one year on each theft count.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The outlier in my everflowing makeup bag is a skin care-like formula that adds a noticeable glow and blurring effect—smoothing big pores and all.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
-
Soft-matte with a priming shine-control complex, this chemical sunscreen is a pore-blurring innovation that doesn’t pill.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
If that bottle hiding in the back of your bar cart is dusty and doesn't taste the same, buy a fresh one.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
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If agreements, planning decisions or delays are hiding behind NDAs, the committee will demand answers.—
Quil Lawrence,
NPR,
28 May 2026
Verb
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For a country that relies on crude oil and natural gas exports for a significant chunk of its budget revenue, these attacks are not only producing financial strain for the Kremlin but darkening the Russian people’s psychology as well.—
Daniel DePetris,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
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Or, perhaps most dramatically, one such clustering happened some 66 million years ago when an asteroid collided with Earth, darkening the skies and likely wiping out the dinosaurs - and over half of all plant species.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Robby Snelling made his way into the Miami Marlins’ clubhouse on Sunday morning with a full brace covering his left arm, keeping it locked basically at a 90-degree angle.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
24 May 2026
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The organization also found that our nation’s capital has 693 parks, covering 21 percent of its land, six percentage points higher than the national median.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
Verb
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But as that dream inches closer to reality, legal squabbles are clouding that momentum.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
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Republicans want to pass the bill as quickly as possible, but the party-line bill’s exposure to anti-weaponization fund amendments is clouding its path in both chambers.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
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These tankers and freighters attempt to avoid detection through a variety of methods, ranging from repeatedly reflagging vessels under different national registries to physically disguising them like something out of Master and Commander.—
David Szondy
May 12,
New Atlas,
12 May 2026
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That's why designer Ashley Gallion says this method should be your first line of approach at disguising lamp cords.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
8 May 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 1 Jun. 2026.
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