obfuscate

/ˈɑbfəˌskeɪt/
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To make something harder to understand.

Examples

  • The company obfuscated its code to hinder copying.
  • Her answer obfuscated rather than resolved the issue.
  • A clear chart can reveal what dense prose obfuscates.
  • The report used jargon to obfuscate a simple failure.
  • Do not obfuscate the numbers with vague labels.

Similar words

complicate
obscure
cloud
blur
muddy

Meanings

Make a message or structure unclear

verb
communication
formal
To hide the meaning or workings of something by making it needlessly difficult to follow, whether in language or in code.

Examples

  • The report used jargon to obfuscate a simple failure.
  • Do not obfuscate the numbers with vague labels.
  • The company obfuscated its code to hinder copying.
  • Her answer obfuscated rather than resolved the issue.
  • A clear chart can reveal what dense prose obfuscates.

Similar words

Etymology

From late Latin obfuscare, meaning to darken, built on fuscus, meaning dark.

FAQ

What does obfuscate mean?

To obfuscate is to make something hard to understand.

When is obfuscate used?

It often describes vague language, dense explanations, or code deliberately made difficult to read.

How does obfuscate differ from confuse?

Confuse describes the effect on a person, while obfuscate stresses the act of making the material unclear.

How is obfuscate used in a sentence?

A report can obfuscate a failure by burying it in jargon.

Is obfuscate formal?

Yes. Obfuscate is a formal word, though it also appears in technical discussions.

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