Obfuscate
hardNegative toneOB-fus-kayt
verb
Definition
To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible
Memory hook
OB-FUS-CATE: Cover in FUSCOUS (dark) fog -- deliberately making things unclear.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The politician tried to obfuscate the issue with technical jargon.”
“Don't obfuscate the facts with unnecessary details.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The politician tried to ______ the issue with technical jargon.”
Show answer
obfuscate
Categories
GRE Tip
Obfuscate is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "obscure" or "confuse" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "clarify".
Related GRE Words
abstruse
Difficult to understand; obscure
cryptic
Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure
esoteric
Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge
recondite
Little known; abstruse; dealing with very profound, difficult, or specialized subject matter
confound
to confuse or perplex; to mix up or thwart
opaque
Not able to be seen through; not transparent; difficult to understand
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