obfuscate

What does “obfuscate” mean?

verb.to render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.

SAT Usage

the term commonly appears in passages discussing communication, clarity, or complex subjects, often in the context of politics, law, or technology. It emphasizes an intentional act of making information confusing or unclear, suggesting deceit or strategic ambiguity, which differs from similar words like "confuse" that lack the connotation of intent.

Common Confusions

Obfuscate implies an intentional act of making information unclear, while confuse usually suggests a lack of clarity that may occur without any deliberate effort.

Example Sentences

• The lengthy contract was designed to obfuscate its true terms.

• We need to obfuscate these classes before we ship the final release.

• The company's financial report was deliberately designed to obfuscate the true state of its finances, making it difficult for shareholders to understand the risks involved.

Word Parts: How to Remember “obfuscate”

Break “obfuscate” into its parts: ob- (against, toward). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ob- against, toward (Latin)