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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective conspicuous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of conspicuous are noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, and striking. While all these words mean "attracting notice or attention," conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind.

conspicuous bureaucratic waste

In what contexts can noticeable take the place of conspicuous?

The meanings of noticeable and conspicuous largely overlap; however, noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation.

a piano recital with no noticeable errors

When can outstanding be used instead of conspicuous?

Although the words outstanding and conspicuous have much in common, outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind.

honored for her outstanding contributions to science

Where would prominent be a reasonable alternative to conspicuous?

The words prominent and conspicuous can be used in similar contexts, but prominent applies to something commanding notice by standing out from its surroundings or background.

a doctor who occupies a prominent position in the town

When would remarkable be a good substitute for conspicuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to conspicuous, remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment.

a film of remarkable intelligence and wit

When might salient be a better fit than conspicuous?

While the synonyms salient and conspicuous are close in meaning, salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it.

the salient points of the speech

When is striking a more appropriate choice than conspicuous?

The synonyms striking and conspicuous are sometimes interchangeable, but striking applies to something that impresses itself powerfully and deeply upon the observer's mind or vision.

the region's striking poverty

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 conspicuous In a perfect world for Holmgren, his return to the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center in St. Paul on Thursday afternoon would have been much less conspicuous. Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 3 July 2025 Allowing digital billboards would give San Diego a chance to remove the most conspicuous and unpopular of those remaining static billboards, said Lee, stressing that many are in residential neighborhoods that are otherwise commercial-free. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025 Our inability to record these sweltering spells in a more conspicuous way is shared by the natural world, which rarely shows the marks of an episode of hot weather in any lasting way. Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025 On the cable front, Warner Bros. Discovery’s split from the NBA made for a very conspicuous absence during its upfront show, which could have used a dose of the inimitable Charles Barkley. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for conspicuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspicuous
Adjective
  • Some people find that getting a tan makes their acne less noticeable, but these effects are temporary.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 July 2025
  • Speaking of titles with a noticeable presence on the streaming originals list is Stranger Things, which hasn’t debuted any new episodes in three years.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Seal obvious gaps around the foundation and under doors, says Bertone.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 28 July 2025
  • The entrepreneur and podcaster David Sacks has shaped dramatic and high-impact shifts in US policy with presidential support but little obvious meddling, and emerged as one of the most effective figures in the administration.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 28 July 2025
Adjective
  • Estonia is widely considered a prominent tech hub in Europe.
    Ryan Browne, CNBC, 24 July 2025
  • Black was a prominent Florida defense attorney known for several high-profile clients, including Epstein and Kennedy Smith.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • The chart’s most cringeworthy attribute is not the blatant inaccuracy, but the disingenuity.
    Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • One of the most important American service exports is higher education but the Trump Administration in this case has displayed blatant disregard for trade balance with its multi-pronged attack on universities and its hostility to international students.
    Devashish Mitra, Time, 28 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Sox scored four in the fourth to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2025
  • And that one draw was only because two days were lost to rain at Old Trafford in Manchester when England were in a commanding position at a pivotal stage of the most recent Ashes series against Australia two years ago.
    Paul Newman, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • There is a glaring lack of awareness concerning the condition, spanning from lack of research, lack of public discussion, lack of patient empowerment and a systemic dismissal of women’s health needs.
    Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
  • Indeed, Cold War–era American institutions and personalities who promoted the ideal of aesthetic autonomy while trying to dissuade writers and artists from left-wing politics and propagandizing (sometimes with the help of CIA subventions) represented a glaring contradiction.
    Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a certain romanticism that lies at the heart of these remarkable gins, something conjured, perhaps, by that dramatic meeting of land and sea.
    Camille Berry, Vogue, 15 July 2025
  • Google stock has already achieved remarkable gains, growing 2x from $88 levels in early 2023 to approximately $180 at present.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • The past five years have been among the most dramatic: SXSW closed down during the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and did not reopen in person — on a much smaller scale — until 2022.
    Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025
  • That story was at the center of dramatic portrayals in an HBO Max docuseries, which accused Remnant of being a cult, and a Lifetime movie.
    Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 22 July 2025

Cite this Entry

“Conspicuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspicuous. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.

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