obfuscate

Meaning

Verb

1. To make dark; to overshadow.
2. To deliberately make more confusing in order to conceal the truth.
3. To alter code while preserving its behavior but concealing its structure and intent.

Adj

Obfuscated; darkened; obscured.

Synonyms

muddle

darken

obscure

derange

becloud

blur

confuse

tangle

break up

clutter

commingle

commix

compound

conceal

concoct

confect

confound

cover up

deaden

dim

disarrange

disarray

discompose

disconcert

disorganize

disrupt

dissolve

distract

dull

fence

flummox

fog

🌫️

fold

fox

🦊

fuddle

hedge

heterodyne

hide

immingle

immix

intermix

jumble

meld

mess

mingle

mix

mix in

mix up

motley

paddle

Translations

ofuscar

ofuscar

offuscare

obscurcir

συσκοτίζω

abbuiare

verduisteren

dérouter

verfinstern

θολώνω

verdunkeln

ottenebrare

offusquer

σκοτεινιάζω

verschleiern

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɒbfʌskeɪt/

Etymology

The adjective is first attested in 1487, in Middle English, the verb in 1536; either borrowed from Middle French obfusquer, offusquer, from Old French offusquer, or directly from Late Latin obfuscātus, offuscātus, the perfect passive participle of obfuscō, offuscō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from Latin ob- + fuscō (“to darken”). Doublet of dusken (“to darken, make obscure”).