clouding

verb

present participle of cloud
1
as in obscuring
to make dark, dim, or indistinct the diner's dark interior, clouded with smoke and grease

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in confusing
to make (something) unclear to the understanding cloud the issue with obscure statistics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clouding Wholesale inflation fell from May to June on plunging energy prices, but intensifying hostilities with Iran are clouding the outlook. — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 However, a lack of diversity in thought was clouding every step forward. — Janine Schindler, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 Are foggy relationships clouding your goals and ambitions? — Usa Today, USA Today, 25 June 2026 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were recent enough for Black Americans to understand the nation’s possibility for change, yet the routine violence didn’t diminish, clouding the wave of optimism with grief and disillusionment. — Rae-Aila Crumble, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026 What’s more, handling a mummy exposes it to potential contamination from modern bacteria and fungi, further clouding the picture of its microbial makeup. — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 8 June 2026 But as that dream inches closer to reality, legal squabbles are clouding that momentum. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 29 May 2026 Republicans want to pass the bill as quickly as possible, but the party-line bill’s exposure to anti-weaponization fund amendments is clouding its path in both chambers. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 29 May 2026 For Vuletic, the path out of the controversy clouding the contest has little to do with the rules. — Andrew Jones, NBC news, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clouding
  1. obscuring
  2. confusing
  3. blurring
  4. obfuscating
  5. darkening
  6. muddying
  7. fogging
  8. complicating
Verb
  • On Saturday, July 25, the Deadpool star went undercover at the conference as his sword-bearing Marvel superhero, posing with fans with his character’s mask obscuring his face.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
  • But Hegseth’s push for $67 billion more in emergency Iran spending — while the Pentagon directs $75 billion from last year’s tax cuts law to other military spending — may be obscuring a war cost that is far greater.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of obscuring
Verb
  • Physicians are alarmed, stressing that FDA licensing is crucial for guiding patients, as this decision risks confusing consumers about regulated versus unregulated treatments.
    — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Seahawks and Eagles won Super Bowls by confusing teams from multiple alignments.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of confusing
Verb
  • Deepfakes and synthetic media are blurring reality, challenging identity verification and requiring continuous authentication.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • The video shows several people standing on the left side, with the transit agency blurring their faces to not completely shame them.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of blurring
Verb
  • The situation has sparked backlash from lawmakers, who say the administration is obfuscating the casualty count and is trying to skirt the 60-day limit on military action without congressional authorization by rebranding the war.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • The political committee is also the subject of a recent Federal Election Commission complaint accusing it of obfuscating its expenses in violation of federal election rules.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of obfuscating
Verb
  • The summer sounds of 1966 offered a distraction from darkening clouds of social and political upheaval.
    — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Hapsburg Inspector General, the equivalent of the food inspector darkening the doorway of a scummy restaurant?
    — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of darkening
Verb
  • In essence, the excellent second season is dedicated to muddying the myth of heroes and villains, in that heroes don’t have to put themselves above anyone in order to lead.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Bird baths should be placed at least 10 to 15 feet away from nearby feeders to keep bird seed and other debris from muddying up the water.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026
Definition of muddying
Verb
  • The result blurs the line between shimmer and velvet-matte, and looks like condensation fogging up a glass.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 July 2026
  • Breaking the cycle of mosquito breeding in a non-toxic way reduces reliance on harmful fogging chemicals, which kill insects indiscriminately.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
Definition of fogging
Verb
  • Common issues complicating pregnancies are obesity, substance abuse, and depression or mental health problems.
    — Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Firefighting crews were making progress in trying to keep the blaze under control, but strong wind gusts were complicating those efforts.
    — Miguel Macias, NPR, 27 July 2026
Definition of complicating

Browse Nearby Words

cloudiness
clouding
cloudland
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Cite this Entry

“Clouding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clouding. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on clouding

Nglish: Translation of clouding for Spanish Speakers

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