fog of war
Americannoun
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in a war or battle, the uncertainty and lack of knowledge about the current situation on the part of leaders, causing difficulty in strategizing and decision-making.
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in video games, a feature preventing players from clearly observing map conditions, activities, or geography in areas that they have not explored or no longer control.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Perhaps the fog of war will clear enough for us to see that — if it is indeed what enough of us are looking for.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
"The fog of war continues," investment adviser Christopher Dembik of Pictet Asset Management said.
From Barron's ● Mar. 31, 2026
“Investors are still unclear about what happens next. The fog of war is thick,” said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 24, 2026
The so-called "fog of war" doesn't just cloud the thinking of military planners, it also affects the perception of politicians and the public.
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2026
Van Riper didn’t believe you could lift the fog of war.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.