Definition of OBFUSCATE

obfuscate

Verb

  • make obscure or unclear
  • To make dark; to overshadow.
  • To deliberately make more confusing in order to conceal the truth.
  • To alter code while preserving its behavior but concealing its structure and intent.

Adj

  • Obfuscated; darkened; obscured.

Examples

  • Before leaving the scene, the murderer set a fire in order to obfuscate any evidence of his identity.
  • Can weakness be really obfuscated?
  • obfuscate facts
  • We need to obfuscate these classes before we ship the final release.

Origin / 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”).

Antonyms

clarify, explain, simplify

Scrabble Score: 16

obfuscate: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
obfuscate: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
obfuscate: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

obfuscate: valid Words With Friends Word