striking

adjective

strik·​ing ˈstrī-kiŋ 

: attracting attention or notice through unusual or conspicuous qualities

a place of striking beauty

strikingly adverb

Synonyms of striking

• noticeable
• prominent
• commanding
• dramatic
• remarkable
• impressive
• marked

Choose the Right Synonym for striking

noticeable, remarkable, prominent, outstanding, conspicuous, salient, striking mean attracting notice or attention.

noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation.

a piano recital with no noticeable errors

remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment.

a film of remarkable intelligence and wit

prominent applies to something commanding notice by standing out from its surroundings or background.

a doctor who occupies a prominent position in the town

outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind.

honored for her outstanding contributions to science

conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind.

conspicuous bureaucratic waste

salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it.

the salient points of the speech

striking applies to something that impresses itself powerfully and deeply upon the observer's mind or vision.

the region's striking poverty

Examples of striking in a Sentence

The poverty of the city is striking.

There is a striking resemblance between the girls.

an actress known for her striking good looks

Recent Examples on the Web

Safety, Security, and Promiscuous Publicness Geographer Gill Valentine’s paper on the spatial implications of women’s fear opens with a striking example of one woman’s nightmare coming to life. —JSTOR Daily, 14 Nov. 2025

Protecting medical accuracy One of the most striking examples came in a 2019 study published in Science written by researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Chicago. —Joel Bervell, Time, 14 Nov. 2025

But perhaps most striking is how unimpressive Epstein seems. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2025

Stretching across an expansive tomato farm under the blazing Turkey sun, Murat Fıratoğlu’s opening shot to his award-winning One of Those Days When Hemme Dies is purposefully striking. —Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing striking

• in striking contrast to/with
• stand in striking contrast to/with
• striking distance

Rhymes for striking

• biking
• diking
• hiking
• liking
• spiking
• viking
• disliking
• hitchhiking

Kids Definition

striking

adjective

strik·​ing

ˈstrī-kiŋ

: attracting attention : remarkable, impressive

a striking costume

a striking resemblance

strikingly adverb