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

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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 Something about home or family could be distracting you in a way that’s clouding your read on your professional situation today. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 Beyond the 2022 case dismissal, in other instances, charges were never filed, information has come out clouding an accuser’s story, or Brown has counter-sued for defamation — details which complicate each story. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026 The detention of Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu on Thursday risks clouding Lusaka’s credentials as a relatively stable southern African democracy and denting investor confidence in Africa’s second-largest copper producer. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026 In addition to the starters who have yet to practice for the Panthers, a couple of notable first- and second-year players have been sidelined recently, clouding the roster picture a bit. — Joseph Person, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Then Kris drifts outside, her face clouding, followed by Billy. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 10 Aug. 2026 What underlying assumptions are clouding my strategic judgment? — Simone Lundquist, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 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 Are foggy relationships clouding your goals and ambitions? — Usa Today, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clouding
  1. obscuring
  2. confusing
  3. blurring
  4. obfuscating
  5. darkening
  6. muddying
  7. fogging
  8. complicating
Verb
  • Just such an October weather pattern occurred 61 years ago, obscuring predawn views of the spectacular Comet Ikeya-Seki for most observers east of the Mississippi — an ironic fate for the most brilliant comet of the 20th century.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Today’s problem is hyperscalers spending themselves into oblivion, spreading inflation well beyond Silicon Valley and obscuring problems nearly everywhere else.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscuring
Verb
  • The crowd even includes Sam, who has a fun moment catching up with Roy and confusing him with an observation that sounds like it was inspired by The Wizard of Oz.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Apples and oranges But some note that investors may be confusing activity numbers that aren't exactly comparable.
    — Ananya Chetia,Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of confusing
Verb
  • The lines between Iñárritu’s fiction and our demented present are clearly blurring.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The lines have been blurring between categories for a while, and now Snapdragon chips are powering laptops and delivering performance that rivals high-end Intel Core chips.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of blurring
Verb
  • The lawsuit expanded on that, accusing the village of obfuscating the nature of the development during the earlier stages of approvals.
    — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The revelation is the latest example of how engaging the technology — and obfuscating such use — can roil audiences eager to support new films.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of obfuscating
Verb
  • The neutral palette feels a little more friendly and relaxed rather than dark and serious, which adds a certain brightness back into the rapidly darkening days.
    — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2026
  • But at a festive National Day meal in Riyadh, where families dined while patriotic songs filled the room, there was a growing sense that the public mood may be darkening.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of darkening
Verb
  • Her father is also fighting as a soldier in the Ukrainian Army, further muddying things.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But Trump’s approval ratings have suffered a year and a half into his second term and are muddying a race that Blakeman wants to keep squarely focused on Hochul and her management of the state.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of muddying
Verb
  • Here’s how to tell why your windows are fogging up in the morning and what to do about it.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In other words, Bessent is fogging up the very same windshield Warsh was attempting to get a clear view from.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of fogging
Verb
  • But there are complicating factors that are stymying that growth, and they are tied in large part to imports.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Mortgage rates just hit the highest level since 2023, further complicating the economic picture as inflation remains high and investors grow increasingly concerned about the federal government’s fiscal footing.
    — Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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