obscured
Kept from view
Obscured is the past tense and participle of obscure, meaning hidden from view or made difficult to see or understand.
Something physically obscured is blocked or covered: Clouds obscured the mountain peak.
The word extends to abstract contexts where clarity is compromised: Technical jargon obscured the main argument.
When something is obscured, it hasn't disappeared—it's still there but harder to perceive or comprehend.
Made invisible deliberately
- veiledConcealed or obscured
- maskedHaving face covered
- cloakedConcealed or covered
- buriedPlaced beneath earth
camouflaged · disguised · shrouded · covered · enveloped · secluded · secreted · stashed
Having multiple interpretations
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- crypticObscure in meaning
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
confusing · uncertain · indefinite · puzzling · perplexing · incomprehensible · unintelligible · convoluted
Lost original color
- weakenedMade less capable
- lessenedMade or became smaller
- reducedMade less in amount
- overshadowedSurpassed and diminished
eclipsed · suppressed · downplayed · minimized · understated · muted · subdued · attenuated
Concealed information
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
undercover · incognito · undisclosed · classified · confidential · underground · illicit · backdoor
concealed
Made invisible deliberately
buried · camouflaged · disguised · shrouded · covered · enveloped · secluded · secreted · stashed · tucked
foggy
Obscured by vapor
overcast · smoggy · murky · blurred · bleary · smoky · opaque · dimmed · shadowy · dusky
ambiguous
Having multiple interpretations
enigmatic · confusing · uncertain · indefinite · puzzling · perplexing · incomprehensible · unintelligible · convoluted · muddled
faded
Lost original color
overshadowed · eclipsed · suppressed · downplayed · minimized · understated · muted · subdued · attenuated · diluted
secret
Concealed information
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
stealthy · undercover · incognito · undisclosed · classified · confidential · underground · illicit · backdoor · off-the-record
- visionsharp, eye, visual perception, sight, eyes
- overlookedoverlooked, unnoticed, ignored, forgotten, neglected
- redactedredacted, censored, blacked out, expunged, deleted
- visibilityvisibility, visible, invisible, hidden, hide
- partially visiblesilhouette, outline, shadow, glimpse, peek
- smokysmoky, smoking, smoldering, fuming, smoked
obscuredvisible
Able to be seen
revealed · exposed · unobscured · uncovered · in plain sight
obscuredclear
Without obstruction or fog
clarified · explained · transparent · intelligible · lucid
- obscure originsUnclear source or ancestry
obscure, obscurity, obscuring, obscurely, obscureness, obscures, obscurities, obscurer, obscurantism