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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obscuring
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
To glean clues about her birth family, Valentine held the note up to the light, peering through the obscuring markings.
—Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
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
To glean clues about her birth family, Valentine held the note up to the light, peering through the obscuring markings.
—Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscuring
Verb
-
Clad in black and concealing their faces, the rioters hurled dangerous flares and pyrotechnics directly onto the playing surface.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
The tiered skirt adds visual interest while also concealing my lower stomach, and the fabric was breathable enough to keep me from melting during an outdoor ceremony in humid Iowa weather — no easy feat!—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Through Kongo’s intervention, the Cullinan evolves from luxury SUV into collectible contemporary artwork, blurring the boundaries between automotive craftsmanship, design and fine art.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Its subtly blurring and hydrating formula results in a smooth and non-cakey finish.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Not every summer movie needs to be a mystery that unfolds hallway after hallway, with a creature hiding around every corner ready to pop out.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
This means that bills get hearings, debates happen in public, and legislators are required to vote on issues instead of hiding behind process.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
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,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2026
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The shades of twilight in Badlands National Park would test the limits of a Crayola 64-pack—the darkening sky contrasted against multilayered rock formations changing colors in the dying light.—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Romano points out that, when Lincoln emerged as a dark horse in the 1860 Presidential race, journalists covering the election sometimes found Mary more impressive than her spouse.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
People struggling with student loans, in particular, must often choose between covering today’s bills and saving for tomorrow.—
Mary Moreland,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Development sends runoff into bays, further clouding the water.—
Annika Hammerschlag,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
For Vuletic, the path out of the controversy clouding the contest has little to do with the rules.—
Andrew Jones,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
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 20 May. 2026.
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