OBSCURED Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

obscured 1 of 2

adjective

as in darkened

being without light or without much light an obscured area of the prison yard that was the perfect escape route

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

obscured

2 of 2

verb

past tense of obscure

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 obscured

Adjective

The face of one subject is somewhat obscured, turned away from the camera. — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026 Each of the 24 service members is seen in obscured profile, their voices modified to make identification impossible. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 Across Britain, where the sun was more than 90% obscured, people flocked to hilltop parks and anywhere with an open view of the sky to see the best eclipse since 1999. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 On this year’s summer solstice, a group of volunteers gathered to tend to the obscured orchard atop one of the Figueroa Street Tunnels. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 For one thing, near-infrared light can pass through thin clouds, so an obscured sky wouldn't prevent communication. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 June 2026 Earl Hindman scored the role of Wilson, the Taylor's wise (and facially obscured) neighbor, on Home Improvement, appearing in 203 episodes of the series. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026 In some cases, apps disclose the behavior, often in small or obscured print. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026 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

Verb

The Barnes & Noble—a wide, flat building in gray brick—was obscured by an enormous construction crane. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 What resonated most for me, though, was witnessing conversations where depth of understanding unveiled perspectives previously obscured. — Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Squalls swung in across the north bank and obscured the river. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 While the industry’s trafficking routes are kept obscured, its advertising is done in the open. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 But that shortfall obscured the strong performance and positive outlook of J & J's largest segment, Innovative Medicine. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 Both of us gravitated toward the dot cake, vanilla cake and buttercream, entirely obscured by a psychedelic layer of rainbow sprinkles, an online phenomenon neither of us had tried. — Tanya Bush, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026 The same repositioning also obscured the screws that hold the GPU brace’s mounting bracket. — Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026 In her translation, where papyri were tattered or a word obscured, Carson indicates this by using brackets and white space. — Amy Cannon, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obscured

Adjective

Around them stand darkened houses, and uncollected trash piles up on the street.

— Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026

Definition of darkened

Verb

Menon's photo reveals spectacular pink, purple and red auroras glowing in Earth's upper atmosphere above a sparse dappling of city lights, subtly blurred by the motion of the orbital spacecraft over the course of the exposure.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
But as the spectacle grew, the distinction between personal style and dressing for visibility became increasingly blurred.

— Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of blurred

Adjective

Destructive storms like Hurricane Milton in 2024, which made landfall on Florida’s west coast at Siesta Key, can destroy traps, make the water murky and otherwise cause complications for fishermen.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
The evidence is murkier than the common talking point suggests.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of murky

Verb

Other suites are even more striking, covered from head to toe in a flora wallpaper and bright, colorful custom furniture.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Construction crews stripped the president's name from the exterior in June, but the front portico of the building has since been covered by a tarp, concealing most of its name.

— Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of covered

Verb

On the greatest album of all time, her voice is less affected yet further out of reach, persistently clouded by AutoTune and sometimes submerged under the beats, so only her sibilants break the surface.

— Walden Green, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Ukraine bombing oil facilities in Russia and more tankers coming under attack in the Persian Gulf have clouded the supply outlook.

— Lee Ying Shan,Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of clouded

Adjective

In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Connie Britton and Sam Nivola lead the series created by Nick Paley that blends mystery, dark comedy and the awkwardness of adolescence.

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of dark

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obscure

obscured

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“Obscured.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obscured. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of obscured

adjective

verb

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