clouded

USAGE SUMMARY

'clouded' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is filled with a lot of fog, dust, or dirt, or when referring to something that is obscured, darkened, or made unclear. Example sentence: His judgement was clouded by his anger.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That stance is dismissed by Downing Street as undiplomatic and opportunistic but Cameron's contempt for Labour's position is clouded by personal animus.

The Guardian - Opinion

Murray's clear vision of what the unions were about was for the main part clouded by his inability to put it into practice.

The Guardian

That clouded any merits the co-payment might have had.

The Guardian - Opinion

Last year, a swarm of the flying insects clouded the cockpit windows of a domestic flight in the United States and began being sucked into the aircraft's engines.

The Guardian

The committee's members claim the email shows an overly close relationship between Hartnett and Morse which may have clouded Morse's judgement.

The Guardian

Related: Simon Stevens' NHS Confederation conference speech: five key points She told delegates at the NHS Confederation annual conference in Liverpool: "Visions for the future are clouded by the crisis going on today with a workforce that was created yesterday.

The Guardian

But Raghuram Rajan, the central bank's chief, said in December that he was minded to cut interest rates soon perhaps before the next scheduled policy meeting if nothing clouded the rosy outlook for inflation.

The Economist

But this year the familiar tableau is clouded by one big uncertainty: with the country at war and the economy in recession, will the American consumer be willing to spend?Judging by the behaviour of many retailers, the answer is no.

The Economist

After the 1997 election, Tory policies on the Lords were clouded by clashes between Lord Cranborne and Liam Fox, the Tory spokesman on constitutional affairs.Lord Cranborne has now publicly accepted that hereditary peers must go.

The Economist

Peace itself was clouded when one of the men to blame was later "disappeared"—by the Presidential Guard, with baseball bats, it seems.

The Economist

Mr Netanyahu's people, on the other hand, see it as postponing the real decision until next year.Ambiguity has clouded the plan from its inception.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clouded" to describe situations where clarity or judgment is diminished due to external factors like emotions, biases, or misinformation.

Common error

Avoid using "clouded" to describe literal cloud cover when more descriptive words like "overcast" or "gloomy" might be more appropriate. Reserve "clouded" for metaphorical senses where clarity is diminished.

Linguistic Context

Clouded primarily functions as a past participle adjective or verb, describing a state where something is obscured or unclear. Ludwig AI examples show it often modifies nouns like 'judgment', 'vision', or 'outlook', indicating diminished clarity. The word also functions as past of cloud as Ludwig AI examples mention.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Formal & Business

9%

Science

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clouded" is a versatile word primarily used to describe a state of diminished clarity, whether literal or figurative. Ludwig AI indicates that its grammatical function is mainly as a past participle adjective or verb, frequently appearing in news and media contexts. The word's usage suggests a neutral register, and it's often used to express uncertainty or obscured understanding. While generally correct, be mindful of overusing "clouded" in literal contexts when other words are more descriptive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obscured

Implies something is hidden or not easily seen, similar to "clouded" in terms of clarity.

muddled

Suggests a state of confusion or disorder, akin to something being "clouded" with uncertainty.

blurred

Indicates a lack of clear definition, comparable to the way "clouded" suggests a lack of clarity.

dimmed

Implies a reduction in brightness or clarity, similar to how "clouded" suggests a reduction in understanding.

veiled

Suggests something is covered or concealed, similar to how something "clouded" is obscured.

befogged

Implies a state of mental confusion, like a mind "clouded" by emotion or uncertainty.

obfuscated

Indicates something is made unclear or unintelligible, similar to how "clouded" suggests a lack of clarity.

compromised

Suggests something is weakened or impaired, much like how judgement can be "clouded".

tainted

Implies something is corrupted or spoiled, similar to how judgment can be "clouded" by bias.

inhibited

Suggests a restriction or hindrance, similar to how "clouded" can limit understanding or action.

FAQs

How can I use "clouded" in a sentence?

You can use "clouded" to describe something that is obscured or made unclear. For example: "His judgment was "clouded" by anger."

What words can I use instead of "clouded"?

Alternatives to "clouded" include "obscured", "muddled", or "blurred", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "his judgment was clouded" or "his judgment was impaired"?

Both phrases are correct, but "his judgment was "clouded"" suggests an external factor affecting his reasoning, while "his judgment was "impaired"" implies an internal deficiency or damage.

What does it mean when someone's vision is described as "clouded"?

When someone's vision is described as ""clouded"", it means their eyesight is not clear, possibly due to a medical condition, fatigue, or temporary obstruction.