Final answer:
Interference, such as noise, distortion, or encryption, can dampen or obscure the true meaning of a message.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anything that dampens or obscures the true meaning of a message is known as interference. Interference can arise from various factors such as noise, distortion, or encryption.
Noise refers to any unwanted sound or disturbance that disrupts the clarity of a message. For example, if there is loud background noise while trying to have a conversation, it becomes difficult to understand each other.
Distortion occurs when the message gets altered or changed during transmission. This can happen due to technical issues or poor signal quality. For instance, if you have a poor phone connection, the voice on the other end might sound garbled or unclear.
Encryption is a process that transforms a message into a coded form to prevent unauthorized access. While it doesn't necessarily obscure the true meaning of the message, it can make it challenging to understand without the proper decryption key.