Obscurant

An 'obscurant' is a person or viewpoint deliberately intended to obscure, confuse, or hide the truth, often by using intentionally vague or complex language, promoting secrecy, or resisting the spread of knowledge. They might selectively present information, suppress evidence, or advocate for methods that hinder understanding and progress. This behavior often stems from a desire to maintain power, control, or privilege by preventing others from accessing crucial facts or insights. The term implies an active effort to make things unclear rather than a passive lack of understanding.

Obscurant meaning with examples

• The historian accused the government of being obscurant, pointing to the deliberately vague language used in their reports regarding the environmental impact of the project. They believed the opacity aimed to shield the public from the full extent of the damage, allowing the project to proceed without significant opposition, showing their attempts at preventing truth.
• A religious obscurant, promoting dogma over scientific inquiry, discouraged their followers from exploring evolutionary biology. They presented select quotes out of context to undermine valid scientific evidence. By intentionally omitting the full context of the scientific understanding, they sought to preserve their specific theological worldview at the expense of comprehensive knowledge.
• The business executive was labeled an obscurant after stonewalling media inquiries. They refused to answer direct questions about the company's controversial practices and deflected attention with vague, jargon-filled responses. His actions were intended to hide potentially damaging information and avoid public accountability to maintain his reputation.
• Critics called the politician an obscurant for advocating for policies that restricted access to education and censored media. They argued his actions would deliberately keep citizens in the dark about important societal issues, such as climate change or voting rights. This suppression of information was intended to manipulate the public's opinion and benefit their personal power.