- Today's Word
Obfuscate
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.