as in darkened
being without light or without much light
an obscured area of the prison yard that was the perfect escape route
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
In an ordinary car with an ordinary dash, all of that would live behind the cluster and relatively obscured from view, or ignored.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 18 Feb. 2026
If your writing is dense, disorganized, or overloaded with technical jargon, the value of the underlying work can become obscured.
—Angelique Parashis, IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2026
The findings suggest that the heavily obscured galactic nuclei of galaxies like IRAS 07251–0248 could act as a production line for organic molecules, thus chemically enhancing their home systems.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Allen was driving on Eight Mile Road in Detroit when she was stopped for traffic violations that included a window tint and an obscured license plate, her lawsuit said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Haze obscured views across San Francisco Bay Wednesday morning as the air quality deteriorated amid a spell of calm winds and clear skies.
—Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
In a photo released to the public, the white truck had a (sadly obscured) California license plate, an equipment rack mounted in the bed, as well as a black Fox Racing tailgate cover.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Feb. 2026
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
The unveiling of definition that has long been obscured.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 14 May 2026
The sender’s name also was obscured after review by the city attorney’s office and Human Resources.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 13 May 2026
The shoes appeared to have high block heels that were obscured by her wide-legged jeans.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
The report, issued on April 30, contains 14 recommendations, some of which were obscured from public view for security reasons.
—Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Like too many others of his time, Smith’s sheer greatness tends to be obscured, his legacy overlooked.
—Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
That starts with its CEO Barbara Petersen, who spent decades tracking bills that obscured the public right to public information, as head of the First Amendment Foundation.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
One of the most severe accusations lobbed by the group was that Tao and former Chief Business Officer Janea Marking knowingly obscured information about the impending financial crisis from the district board of trustees before approving a new contract with the Sacramento City Teachers Association.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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
In an ordinary car with an ordinary dash, all of that would live behind the cluster and relatively obscured from view, or ignored.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 18 Feb. 2026
If your writing is dense, disorganized, or overloaded with technical jargon, the value of the underlying work can become obscured.
—Angelique Parashis, IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2026
The findings suggest that the heavily obscured galactic nuclei of galaxies like IRAS 07251–0248 could act as a production line for organic molecules, thus chemically enhancing their home systems.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Allen was driving on Eight Mile Road in Detroit when she was stopped for traffic violations that included a window tint and an obscured license plate, her lawsuit said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Haze obscured views across San Francisco Bay Wednesday morning as the air quality deteriorated amid a spell of calm winds and clear skies.
—Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
In a photo released to the public, the white truck had a (sadly obscured) California license plate, an equipment rack mounted in the bed, as well as a black Fox Racing tailgate cover.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Images of the enclosure are tightly censored and obscured on digital mapping platforms.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
The unveiling of definition that has long been obscured.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 14 May 2026
The sender’s name also was obscured after review by the city attorney’s office and Human Resources.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 13 May 2026
The shoes appeared to have high block heels that were obscured by her wide-legged jeans.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
The report, issued on April 30, contains 14 recommendations, some of which were obscured from public view for security reasons.
—Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Like too many others of his time, Smith’s sheer greatness tends to be obscured, his legacy overlooked.
—Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
That starts with its CEO Barbara Petersen, who spent decades tracking bills that obscured the public right to public information, as head of the First Amendment Foundation.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
One of the most severe accusations lobbed by the group was that Tao and former Chief Business Officer Janea Marking knowingly obscured information about the impending financial crisis from the district board of trustees before approving a new contract with the Sacramento City Teachers Association.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscured
Adjective
-
In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
As scientists often find darkened teeth in ancient burials, other factors can contribute to a black appearance, notably the chewing of betel leaves.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some viewers took Sharon’s critique as tough love that prompted necessary introspection about why their natural texture is concealed and manipulated so often.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
14 May 2026
-
According to investigators, her body had been concealed beneath boxes and had likely been there for at least 24 hours.—
Gershon Harrell,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The individuals' faces were blurred and authorities did not identify them in their news release.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
Mornings blurred into basketball practices, and afternoons drifted toward softball workouts.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
But first, the imager will scout the asteroid’s immediate neighborhood to check for any moonlets that could pose hazards to the spacecraft or offer clues to the space rock’s murky past.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
-
Details of their final days remain murky.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — boycotting in protest.—
Jill Lawless,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
-
The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants - Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia - boycotting in protest.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Baha Mar is large in stature, sure—and Rosewood is part of a three-hotel complex across the bay from Atlantis, which looms large and brooding over its own end of the water as everything Baha Mar does not want to be—dated, dark, and reminiscent of Spring Break Past.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
-
Also fascinating were their contrasting likenesses, dark against light housed in the same being, a human eclipse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The fan continued over the barrier, fell in front of a red ad for a local butcher shop and landed in an area covered by grass and dirt at the west end of the bullpen.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Additionally, our commerce writers and editors have previously covered a vast array of supportive sandals, including ones that support your feet all day at theme parks and music festivals, plus flip-flops that are actually comfortable.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Arbeloa played for Madrid when Mourinho was in charge from 2010-2013, a tumultuous time in which Madrid won Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles but was overshadowed by Pep Guardiola’s great Barcelona side.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
-
So, that big success of Austrian films this year is overshadowed by that.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obscured.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscured. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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