Obfuscate
Word of the Day
What is Obfuscate?
verb
To make something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Selected to highlight how language can be used not only to clarify, but also to obscure — a tactic often seen in political and legal rhetoric.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
The politician tried to obfuscate the facts with vague generalities.
Technical jargon was used to obfuscate the flaws in the proposal.
He tended to obfuscate his answers to avoid admitting fault.
Word Origins
Latin obfuscare meaning "to darken"
Derived from ob- (over) + fuscus (dark), it originally referred to literal darkness before taking on figurative meaning.
First appearance in English: 16th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
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Noun:
The document was filled with legal obfuscation.
-
Adjective:
The obfuscated data made analysis nearly impossible.
-
Noun:
The malware included an obfuscator to hide its code.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: ofuscar
- French: obscurcir
- German: verschleiern
- Italian: offuscare
- Portuguese: ofuscar
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Distort
“Distort” implies twisting the truth, while “obfuscate” means clouding or hiding it.
Mislead
“Mislead” is broader; “obfuscate” specifically involves confusing communication.
Complicate
“Complicate” makes something harder; “obfuscate” makes something unclear, often intentionally.
Fun Facts
- “Obfuscation” competitions exist where developers purposely write the most confusing code possible.
- The word “obfuscate” has risen in usage in journalism and media during political scandals.
Cultural Usage
- Obfuscation is a common rhetorical strategy to avoid accountability or delay scrutiny.
- In programming, code is sometimes obfuscated to protect intellectual property or hinder reverse engineering.
Common Mistakes
Often misused as a synonym for "complicate"; obfuscate implies deliberate confusion, not just difficulty.
Micro Story
The CEO’s vague statements seemed designed to obfuscate the company’s real intentions.