inconspicuous

adjective

in·​con·​spic·​u·​ous ˌin-kən-ˈspi-kyə-wəs 

-kyü-əs

: not readily noticeable

an inconspicuous brick building

inconspicuously adverb

inconspicuousness noun

Synonyms of inconspicuous

• discreet
• invisible
• unnoticed

Examples of inconspicuous in a Sentence

She tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible so that no one would see her there.

left an inconspicuous scratch on the wall

Recent Examples on the Web

The realization that real people were cast to play hundreds of bushes at the Super Bowl turned the inconspicuous performers into a social media sensation overnight. —Angela Yang, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026

Before wiping down your entire countertop, test a small, inconspicuous area and watch for changes in color or texture. —Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026

Before applying rubbing alcohol or acetone, test the solvent on an inconspicuous area of the garment, such as an inside seam, to check for colorfastness, Romine says. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026

While cell towers are normally installed in inconspicuous locations to seamlessly integrate into urban landscapes, Echard’s visitors are encouraged to seek out and view this edifice at close range. —Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin inconspicuus, from in- + conspicuus conspicuous

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

inconspicuous

adjective

in·​con·​spic·​u·​ous ˌin-kən-ˈspik-yə-wəs 

: not easily seen or noticed

inconspicuously adverb

inconspicuousness noun