as in confusion
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1
as in confusing
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
an article for the layman that blurs the distinction between the two kinds of cholesterol
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obscuring
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
evening shadows blurred the view of the valley from the overlook
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Recent Examples of blurring
Naveen Kumar, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
However, a slight blurring of stars at the edge of the frame seems to betray the subtle motion of the spacecraft — or camera — over the course of the 10-second exposure.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Apr. 2026
In a couple of fleetingly brilliant moments, the director visualizes characters' discombobulation with aggressive blurring and dizzying superimpositions.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
How much of [that blurring divide] is his mental state?
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Online commenters pointed out obvious blurring on both images published by DHS.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 12 Mar. 2026
However, the blurring reportedly fails at times, leaving some identities visible.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
This charming blurring of lines is at the heart of the story, said Dinah Birch in the Times Literary Supplement.
—Alexandra Zagalsky, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
Greenidge also looks forward here to what is very much the most drastic of the post-COVID issues born of that time — the coming of artificial intelligence as a means for solving our problems, and what is looking more and more like a blurring of reality and simulacra.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2026
His many credits include performances with the New York Philharmonic, pioneering minimalist composer Philip Glass, genre-blurring singer Cecile McLorin Salvant, drum dynamo Tyshawn Sorey and such past and present jazz sax powerhouses as Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath and Branford Marsalis.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
In some cases, the distortion of Zionism feeds into this trend, blurring the line between political critique and the delegitimization of the Jewish right to self-determination.
—Elad Strohmayer, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
However, money has a way of blurring a league’s vision.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
When his grandmother also falls ill and prepares to cross the Kuriyako, the sacred place where her people go to die, an ancestral presence arrives in the house, blurring the boundary between the living and the dead.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
The parade helped turn Macy's into a civic institution, blurring the lines between commerce and culture and attaching pageantry and spectacle to the corporate brand.
—Randy Tucker, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
As systems become more capable, the functional boundary of the RV is blurring.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
On April 16, Mercury will meet with dreamy Neptune in Aries, blurring the line between desire and illusion.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
There’s a queerness to Mantello’s vision, including a blurring of gender associations that begins with its leads and radiates throughout, that ultimately drains the drama of its potency.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
However, a slight blurring of stars at the edge of the frame seems to betray the subtle motion of the spacecraft — or camera — over the course of the 10-second exposure.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Apr. 2026
In a couple of fleetingly brilliant moments, the director visualizes characters' discombobulation with aggressive blurring and dizzying superimpositions.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
How much of [that blurring divide] is his mental state?
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Online commenters pointed out obvious blurring on both images published by DHS.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 12 Mar. 2026
However, the blurring reportedly fails at times, leaving some identities visible.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
This charming blurring of lines is at the heart of the story, said Dinah Birch in the Times Literary Supplement.
—Alexandra Zagalsky, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
Greenidge also looks forward here to what is very much the most drastic of the post-COVID issues born of that time — the coming of artificial intelligence as a means for solving our problems, and what is looking more and more like a blurring of reality and simulacra.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
This is a unique move from a smartphone maker, blurring the lines between mobile device and a professional lens system.
—New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2026
His many credits include performances with the New York Philharmonic, pioneering minimalist composer Philip Glass, genre-blurring singer Cecile McLorin Salvant, drum dynamo Tyshawn Sorey and such past and present jazz sax powerhouses as Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath and Branford Marsalis.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
In some cases, the distortion of Zionism feeds into this trend, blurring the line between political critique and the delegitimization of the Jewish right to self-determination.
—Elad Strohmayer, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
However, money has a way of blurring a league’s vision.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
When his grandmother also falls ill and prepares to cross the Kuriyako, the sacred place where her people go to die, an ancestral presence arrives in the house, blurring the boundary between the living and the dead.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
The parade helped turn Macy's into a civic institution, blurring the lines between commerce and culture and attaching pageantry and spectacle to the corporate brand.
—Randy Tucker, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
As systems become more capable, the functional boundary of the RV is blurring.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
On April 16, Mercury will meet with dreamy Neptune in Aries, blurring the line between desire and illusion.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blurring
Noun
-
Invite someone in, agree on a clear next step, and follow through together so momentum builds without confusion or mixed signals.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
After shooting, there was initial confusion as to what had happened before journalists were able to reach their news outlets to report the details of what unfolded.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Welcome to Asking for a Friend, a weekly series dedicated to solving the messy, awkward, and confusing parts of modern friendship.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2026
-
But factors like confusing trailheads and limited provisions mean that going alone also comes with unique risks.—
Allison Forsyth,
Health,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ror all its strengths, Muskism’s account of the rise and influence of its protagonist is one squarely focused on ideology, obscuring the broader political and economic forces working behind the scenes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Records provided to The Star about the Alpha Tau Omega case were heavily redacted, obscuring the specific allegations against fraternity members.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s according to Brian London, president of the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) Association, who argues that misunderstandings and misplaced priorities are clouding the reality of how textile waste is actually managed today.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Development sends runoff into bays, further clouding the water.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The industry is grappling with these logistical hurdles against a backdrop of darkening economic sentiment.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The economist Adam Posen on the effect of the war in Iran on the world’s economy and the darkening economic outlook for the United States.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When The Star requested records related to ATO being placed on probation last year, the outcome letter KU provided was heavily redacted, completely obfuscating the narrative of the hazing allegations that university investigators found to be credible.—
Matthew Kelly
April 6,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The renderings, which showed an imposing new East Wing roughly a city block long, would be longer than the West Wing and almost completely obfuscating the view of the Treasury Building from the White House's South Lawn.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And Hanceville’s fate is as murky as the fog that pours in at night, blotting out buildings and blackening the road ahead.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
These tungsten atoms would then condense on the slightly cooler inside of the glass bulb, blackening it and dimming the light over time.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Assets worth at least $1 million — which includes the vast majority of real estate in San Francisco — are also grouped together, further muddying the picture.—
Alyce McFadden,
San Francisco Chronicle,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Also muddying the outlook for an end to the crisis is uncertainty about what the United States is trying to achieve.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blurring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blurring. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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