befog
verb
be·fog bi-ˈfȯg 
-ˈfäg,
bē-
befogged; befogging; befogs
transitive verb
1
: confuse
2
: fog, obscure
Synonyms
- becloud
- blur
- cloud
- confuse
- fog
- muddy
- obfuscate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the professor's convoluted explanation only befogged the textbook's presentation of this scientific principle the morning murk befogged our view of the harbor
Recent Examples on the Web But the Taycan's launch control hits harder than the Model S's, smacking us with 1.3 g's of initial acceleration long enough to befog our noggin. 
Dave Vanderwerp, Car and Driver, 7 Feb. 2020 This is the point where accidentally interacting with passerby distracted by their smartphones, their attention equally befogged by another kind of augmented reality, could result in a very bad ending. Matt Peckham, Time, 23 June 2017 The detective blames Nichols, the self-aggrandizing adviser who convinced the Cabazons to build a casino, for conjuring the intrigue that continued to befog the case long after his death. Andrew Rice, WIRED, 4 Feb. 2011
Dave Vanderwerp, Car and Driver, 7 Feb. 2020 This is the point where accidentally interacting with passerby distracted by their smartphones, their attention equally befogged by another kind of augmented reality, could result in a very bad ending. Matt Peckham, Time, 23 June 2017 The detective blames Nichols, the self-aggrandizing adviser who convinced the Cabazons to build a casino, for conjuring the intrigue that continued to befog the case long after his death. Andrew Rice, WIRED, 4 Feb. 2011 Word History
First Known Use
1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1
befogging
verb
1
as in confusing
to make (something) unclear to the understanding the professor's convoluted explanation only befogged the textbook's presentation of this scientific principle Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- confusing
- fogging
- blurring
- clouding
- obfuscating
- disrupting
- beclouding
- muddying
- complicating
- dishevelling
- disheveling
- perplexing
- discomposing
- sophisticating
- disarraying
- disarranging
- snarling
- upsetting
- jumbling
- tangling
- muddling
- disordering
- scrambling
- entangling
- shuffling
- tousling
- disturbing
- mixing (up)
- messing (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clearing (up)
- clarifying
- illuminating
- simplifying
- straightening (out)
- streamlining
- analyzing
- breaking down
- undoing
- unraveling
- decoding
- deciphering
- untangling
- disentangling
- unscrambling
2
as in obscuring
to make dark, dim, or indistinct the morning murk befogged our view of the harbor Synonyms & Similar Words
- obscuring
- blurring
- darkening
- dislimning
- clouding
- bedimming
- overshadowing
- dimming
- fogging
- blackening
- overclouding
- fuzzing (up)
- shrouding
- misting
- hazing
- blotting out
- beclouding
- shadowing
- overcasting
- blearing
- concealing
- shading
- eclipsing
- hiding
- covering
- masking
- adumbrating
- obliterating
- screening
- curtaining
- camouflaging
- veiling
- disguising
- cloaking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lighting (up)
- illuminating
- brightening
- lightening
- exposing
- revealing
- illumining
- uncovering
- unveiling
3
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty completely befogged by the sudden change of subject Synonyms & Similar Words
- baffling
- puzzling
- perplexing
- confusing
- bewildering
- blowing one's mind
- embarrassing
- buffaloing
- bothering
- rattling
- mystifying
- posing
- going to one's head
- stunning
- befuddling
- vexing
- disorienting
- muddling
- bamboozling
- flustering
- disturbing
- confounding
- getting
- muddying
- graveling
- bemusing
- addling
- discombobulating
- fuddling
- upsetting
- mazing
- beating
- flummoxing
- unsettling
- foxing
- weirding out
- discomposing
- gravelling
- sticking
- stringing along
- nonplussing
- nonplusing
- disconcerting
- stumping
- distressing
- taking in
- mortifying
- chagrining
- agitating
- misleading
- discountenancing
- disquieting
- discomforting
- dismaying
- discomfiting
- perturbing
- fazing
- deluding
- unhinging
- humbugging
- abashing
- tricking
- fooling
- duping
- snowing
- deceiving
- gulling
- hoodwinking
- beguiling
- cozening
- misguiding
- hoaxing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- satisfying
- assuring
- informing
- reassuring
- enlightening