obfuscated 1 of 2

adjective

as in ambiguous

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Dissimilar Words

obfuscated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of obfuscate
as in confused
to make (something) unclear to the understanding irrelevant matters that only serve to obfuscate the fundamental issue of guilt or innocence

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 obfuscated
Adjective
Ramirez’s temporary leave of absence and concurrent explanation take place on the heels of other more obfuscated medical leaves that have unfolded this summer. — Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 The packages execute an obfuscated payload that can run during the npm install process, which occurs before a developer imports or actually uses the package in a production environment. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 1 June 2026 The initial script is heavily obfuscated to avoid detection by antivirus tools. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Jan. 2026 Crucially, there are real-world exploits like University of California, San Diego’s (UCSD) Imprompter, which had nearly an 80% success rate in extracting personal data via obfuscated prompts. — Camellia Chan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Throughout the history of the game, as concerned parties sought evidence, some of football’s most powerful protectors obfuscated the problem. — Emily Harrison, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026 For around five years, Rodriguez and Perez allegedly obfuscated the various thefts as miscellaneous business expenses. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 In Eddington, Aster examines the absurdity of our present moment, further obfuscated by its mediation through screens. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026 As in the plays of William Shakespeare, Stoppard’s authorial point of view was intentionally obfuscated. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026 From here, things get hazy because the details are missing—or at least highly obfuscated. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026 No wonder the numbers are obfuscated. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026 Crypto transactions are recorded on a ledger that anyone can see and cannot be altered or obfuscated. — Nic Puckrin, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026 Every moment of euphoria is obfuscated by distortion, every pop impulse is undercut by squealing dissonance. — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obfuscated
  1. ambiguous
  2. confused
  3. cryptic
  4. blurred
  5. obscure
  6. complicated
  7. mysterious
  8. unclear
Adjective
  • Bergman’s scenario famously reaches the deeply ambiguous point at which the personalities of the actress Elisabet Vogler and her nurse, Alma, seem to merge.
    — Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • What remains are angry customers, ambiguous situations, exceptions, judgment calls and problems that have already failed one resolution attempt.
    — Antony P Gregory, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Verb
  • However, comments Titi and KC made on their Aftersun episode after being dumped from the villa left Aniya confused about where their dynamic stood.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But getting to these moments means being okay with being confused, and that’s because season 2 really ratchets up the complexity primarily by introducing a whole bunch of new characters, most of whom are variants of existing ones.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • McEwen offered a cryptic tease about what audiences can expect.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But the ambassador retorts with evasion, keeping the language cryptic.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of cryptic
Verb
  • Telescopes show Venus's crescent lengthening and thinning throughout the month, but observers at mid-northern latitudes will find Venus's image to be blurred by turbulence low in the sky.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Lands’ End Starfish Mid-Rise Straight-Leg Pants The line between yoga pants and trousers is blurred with this pair of stretchy, straight-leg pants from Lands’ End.
    — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of blurred
Adjective
  • Given most late-summer midterm-election-year weakness has been more than recovered right afterward, the proper course of action now becomes even more obscure.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In many cases, the robot tail wags the living dog by tricking it—tricking us—into caring about obscure metrics, then gamifying the process of improving them.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of obscure
Verb
  • The controversy was complicated by the fact that some prominent rabbis had actually met with Galliano before the exhibition was announced and had come away believing that his repentance was sincere, as JTA reported earlier this month.
    — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
  • College endowments can be complicated, with the money held across hundreds or even thousands of separate funds.
    — Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of complicated
Adjective
  • But although the mysterious connections between siblings are an area ripe for exploration, Herzog doesn’t seem all that interested beyond the quirk factor, making the film seem precious rather than perceptive.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
  • There’s a mysterious liquid dripping from the ceiling next to the changing table.
    — Zachary Pincus-Roth, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mysterious
Adjective
  • Whether Newsom will embrace the Legislature’s efforts to corral big Tech in California — in part or in whole — remains unclear.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But climate change's role in melting the glacier and causing the catastrophe is unclear.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of unclear

Browse Nearby Words

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obfuscated
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Cite this Entry

“Obfuscated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obfuscated. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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