obfuscate

[ob-fuh-skeyt, ob-fuhs-keyt]

verb (used with object), ob·fus·cat·ed, ob·fus·cat·ing.

to confuse, bewilder, or stupefy.

to make obscure or unclear: to obfuscate a problem with extraneous information.

to darken.

Origin of obfuscate

1525–35; < Late Latin obfuscātus (past participle of obfuscāre to darken), equivalent to Latin ob- ob- + fusc(us) dark + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsob·fus·ca·tion, nounob·fus·ca·to·ry

[ob-fuhs-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɒbˈfʌs kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectiveun·ob·fus·cat·ed, adjective

Synonyms for obfuscate

1. muddle, perplex. 2. cloud.

Antonyms for obfuscate

1. clarify.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for obfuscated

baffle, complicate, perplex, bewilder, conceal, befuddle, puzzle, muddle, confound, rattle, fog, becloud, obscure, darken, cloud, fuddle

British Dictionary definitions for obfuscated

obfuscate

verb (tr)

to obscure or darken

to perplex or bewilder

Derived Formsobfuscatory, adjective

Word Origin for obfuscate

C16: from Latin ob- (intensive) + fuscāre to blacken, from fuscus dark

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for obfuscated

obfuscate

1530s, from Latin obfuscatus, past participle of obfuscare "to darken," from ob "over" (see ob-) + fuscare "to make dark," from fuscus "dark" (see dusk). Related: Obfuscated; obfuscating.