• Today's Word

Obfuscate

🔊 Listen to the word Obfuscate

OB-fuh-skayt

Definition

(verb) To make something unclear, confusing, or difficult to understand.

Example

The report’s dense jargon seemed designed to obfuscate the real issues rather than address them.

Word Origin

From Latin obfuscare, meaning “to darken” or “to obscure.”

Fun Fact

In rhetoric and politics, obfuscation is practically an art form. Speakers may bury simple ideas beneath complex language or overwhelming detail to steer attention away from uncomfortable truths. Psychologists note that obfuscation often taps into cognitive overload—when your brain is juggling too much information, clarity slips away. The word perfectly captures that foggy moment when meaning hides behind shadows.