/EVIDENT Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'evident' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evident are apparent , clear , distinct , manifest , obvious , patent , and plain . While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion. // an evident fondness for sweets

Q: How do 'apparent' and 'evident' relate to one another?

Apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference. // for no apparent reason

Q: When can 'clear' be used instead of 'evident'?

The meanings of clear and evident largely overlap; however, clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern. // a clear explanation

Q: When would 'distinct' be a good substitute for 'evident'?

The words distinct and evident can be used in similar contexts, but distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required. // a distinct refusal

Q: When could 'manifest' be used to replace 'evident'?

In some situations, the words manifest and evident are roughly equivalent. However, manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required. // manifest hostility

Q: In what contexts can 'obvious' take the place of 'evident'?

While the synonyms obvious and evident are close in meaning, obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer. // the obvious solution

Q: When might 'patent' be a better fit than 'evident'?

While in some cases nearly identical to evident , patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it. // patent defects

Q: Where would 'plain' be a reasonable alternative to 'evident'?

Although the words plain and evident have much in common, plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration. // her feelings about him are plain

evident

adjective

ˈe-və-dənt

Definition of evident next

as in apparent

appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed the evident cause of the accident was icy road conditions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obvious

not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation the man was discovered dead in his apartment, but there were no evident signs of foul play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective evident contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evident are apparent, clear, distinct, manifest, obvious, patent, and plain. While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

How do apparent and evident relate to one another?

Apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

When can clear be used instead of evident?

The meanings of clear and evident largely overlap; however, clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

When would distinct be a good substitute for evident?

The words distinct and evident can be used in similar contexts, but distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

When could manifest be used to replace evident?

In some situations, the words manifest and evident are roughly equivalent. However, manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

In what contexts can obvious take the place of evident?

While the synonyms obvious and evident are close in meaning, obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

When might patent be a better fit than evident?

While in some cases nearly identical to evident, patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

Where would plain be a reasonable alternative to evident?

Although the words plain and evident have much in common, plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration.

her feelings about him are plain

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of evident That was evident during the citywide immigration raids attended by Trump’s border czar Tom Homan and the TV personality Dr. Phil in January — and now in Wednesday’s courthouse arrests. —

Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025 The energy at Chase Center was evident for all four quarters. —

Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 22 May 2025 And in Ferguson, Missouri, where the fatal 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown and subsequent mass protests made the city the epicenter for police reform, major changes were evident eight years later, including a more racially diverse police department and less frequent traffic stops. —

Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 22 May 2025 The tension between the two was evident at the command center on Tuesday where they were being collectively gathered and processed. —

Matt Finn, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for evident

Recent Examples of Synonyms for evident

Adjective

Perhaps more than any other genre, the evolution of punk rock (both in Los Angeles and around the world) is never more apparent than in the age range of bands at music festivals.

— Josh Chesler, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025
That license is currently set to expire on May 27, but sources indicate it may now be extended by 60 days — an apparent diplomatic concession aimed at easing tensions and fostering future cooperation.

— Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025

Definition of apparent

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evidencing

evident

evidently

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“Evident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evident. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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Last Updated: 2 Jun 2025 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of evident

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