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

Synonym Chooser

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 This alignment is particularly evident during market skepticism or company transitions, offering investment opportunities before traditional financial metrics fully reflect positive changes. —

Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 More damage from hard water may not be readily evident but is hidden in clogged water lines, steam irons, showerheads, faucets, and mineral deposits in coffee makers that affect the taste of coffee. —

Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 June 2026 But Trump’s evident pride in the comparison revealed something to the two New York Times reporters about what drives his second presidency. —

Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 23 June 2026 Profanity wasn’t tolerated in our house, and Dad quit smoking soon after the risks became evident. —

Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for evident

Recent Examples of Synonyms for evident

Adjective

Less than two years after an infant girl died of apparent starvation in Mesquite, the child's parents pleaded guilty to a lesser crime and received lengthy prison sentences.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 20 June 2026
The Sox announced after the game that Sean Newcomb will be the opener Saturday in an apparent bullpen game.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026

Definition of apparent

Adjective

But what feels most haunting about the arc of then to now, about Smith’s unfathomable issues and woes — yet obvious heart and particularly evident quest to find himself in recent years — is that his words then were spoken with a sense of arrival and past tense.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026
Look in the most obvious places first.

— Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026

Definition of obvious

Adjective

The Statue of Liberty, multiple films This unmistakable statue has been a symbol of welcome to immigrants entering New York’s harbor since it was given to the United States by France in 1886.

— Jennie Yabroff, USA Today, 26 June 2026
The drivers will speed past landmarks including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the National Archives, creating a course that blends technical challenge with an unmistakable and historic backdrop.

— Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Definition of unmistakable

Adjective

Visit Big Bear said the decision to move forward with the event was not made lightly and that organizers were working with the fireworks provider to reduce the loudest booms where possible.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
CosRx’s The 6 Peptide Skin Booster isn’t just about packing in as many peptides as possible—each peptide has a different job, from supporting elasticity and smoothing fine lines to calming skin and boosting radiance.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026

Definition of possible

Adjective

Emergency crews continue to assess the situation in different parts of the country, while authorities are expected to provide a clearer picture in the coming hours regarding material damage, injuries and possible fatalities.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
There’s clear evidence that some of the links between larger climate patterns in the atmosphere are being altered by climate change, Trenberth said.

— Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Definition of clear

Adjective

When asked what works to prevent the chaotic scenes that sometimes dominate news coverage, the youths had a straightforward answer.

— Darius Johnson, CBS News, 24 June 2026
While embryo screening carries relatively less ethical baggage than embryo editing, even screening alone is not always ethically straightforward.

— Paul Knoepfler, STAT, 24 June 2026

Definition of straightforward

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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 28 Jun. 2026.

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