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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 obscuring
The video screen split into panels that lifted up and down throughout the show, always obscuring a large part of the stage.
—
Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Breaking up or obscuring the reflection makes the glass visible to birds, preventing them from hitting your windows.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Conversely, when the environment is very well-lit—especially by direct light sources like overhead or wall lamps—the glossy finish of the panel tends to reflect the sources, obscuring the picture in the process.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
The department, run by State Superintendent Jill Underly, relies on a rudimentary system to track its investigations, obscuring the scale of misconduct for policymakers and the public.
—Danielle Duclos, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The health department redacted a portion of the letter that placed Bookman on leave, obscuring any explanation of what officials were investigating.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
His reflective blue shades were perched atop a baseball cap, obscuring much of his face.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
That means the night skies in and around Capitol Reef are especially protected from star-obscuring light, so this playground of cliffs, arches, and canyons has some of the best stargazing in the country.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Differential privacy introduces controlled noise or randomness to datasets, obscuring individual details while maintaining collective patterns.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2025
Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Breaking up or obscuring the reflection makes the glass visible to birds, preventing them from hitting your windows.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Conversely, when the environment is very well-lit—especially by direct light sources like overhead or wall lamps—the glossy finish of the panel tends to reflect the sources, obscuring the picture in the process.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
The department, run by State Superintendent Jill Underly, relies on a rudimentary system to track its investigations, obscuring the scale of misconduct for policymakers and the public.
—Danielle Duclos, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The health department redacted a portion of the letter that placed Bookman on leave, obscuring any explanation of what officials were investigating.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
His reflective blue shades were perched atop a baseball cap, obscuring much of his face.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
That means the night skies in and around Capitol Reef are especially protected from star-obscuring light, so this playground of cliffs, arches, and canyons has some of the best stargazing in the country.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Differential privacy introduces controlled noise or randomness to datasets, obscuring individual details while maintaining collective patterns.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscuring
Verb
-
Instead of concealing them, Ban’s shutters filter light and create privacy—transforming utilitarian design into art.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Trump faced criminal counts of conspiring to obstruct justice, concealing documents and making false statements.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The exhibition is set to take a unique approach, deliberately blurring the line between a traditional museum presentation and an eerie spectacle.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Over a year later, that work, curated by Sherman, is on view at the International Center of Photography in New York as an exploratory show around pregnancy and parenthood, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The ‘major questions’ doctrine, a principle way to interpret statutes, prevents Congress from hiding major powers in insignificant laws.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Goldin’s remains, according to two Israeli sources, are likely held in Rafah in southern Gaza near an area where up to 200 Hamas militants are hiding in underground tunnels in territory occupied by Israeli forces.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Our planet is darkening too, as Earth's reflectivity, or albedo, is dropping to near-record lows due to melting ice and reduced snow cover that expose darker surfaces that absorb even more heat.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Farther up, on Observatory Hill, tall cryptomeria trees were silhouetted in the darkening evening, and down in the valleys, lights winked on like reflections of the planets and stars appearing in the sky.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Former President Bill Clinton arrived at the New York City Marathon finish line Sunday with a bandage covering the tip of his nose.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The Pentagon recently imposed the most stringent access restrictions of the term, requiring that all reporters covering the Defense Department in person sign a restrictive press policy prohibiting them from soliciting any information the department has not authorized for release.—
Scott Nover,
Arkansas Online,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
That’s all great, but the Guardians aren’t ones to make free-agent splashes, and that’s especially the case with a potential work stoppage clouding everything after the 2026 season.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Innocent to a fault, Rosemary doesn’t see the resentment clouding her husband’s face.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
No need to curb your enthusiasm here because Tony Hawk did a pretty, pretty good job disguising himself as the legendary Larry David.—
Diana Pearl,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
As a result, many civil servants are wary of serving baijiu at government functions; others are skirting the rule by disguising the clear liquor as water.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Each footstep sent up clouds of dust and ash, coating everything, including my mouth and teeth, in fine grit, blackening my snot and saliva.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obscuring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscuring. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share