Obfuscates

To obfuscate means to make something unclear, obscure, or unintelligible. It involves intentionally or unintentionally clouding the meaning of information, language, or ideas, making them difficult to understand. This can be achieved through various means, including the use of complex language, ambiguous phrasing, misleading details, or excessive jargon. Obfuscation can be used to deceive, confuse, or conceal the truth, often serving a specific purpose or intent. It can also result from poor communication or a lack of clarity on the part of the communicator, even without any malicious intent. The term highlights the act of blurring the lines of understanding, hindering comprehension and promoting ambiguity.

Obfuscates meaning with examples

• The lawyer deliberately obfuscates the details of the case, using dense legal jargon and irrelevant tangents to confuse the jury and create doubt in their minds. He hopes to exploit their lack of expertise on this complex situation to win them over. His aim is to obscure any damaging evidence.
• The company's annual report obfuscates the company's losses by using complex financial statements, cryptic footnotes, and overly optimistic projections. Shareholders were left confused, struggling to determine the true financial health of the organization because of the misleading information.
• Rather than clearly stating her political stance, the candidate often obfuscates her position on sensitive issues, using vague language and avoiding direct answers in order to appeal to a broader base. The goal is to dodge potential criticism and to avoid alienating any voter groups.
• The professor's lecture was filled with such complex and abstract concepts that it **obfuscated** the very topic he was trying to explain. Students found themselves struggling to understand the core ideas. His use of excessive terminology hindered the learning experience.