OBVIOUS Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of obvious are apparent , clear , distinct , evident , manifest , patent , and plain . While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer. // the obvious solution

Q: How do 'apparent' and 'evident' relate to one another, in the sense of 'obvious'?

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

Q: When is 'clear' a more appropriate choice than 'obvious'?

The synonyms clear and obvious are sometimes interchangeable, but clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern. // a clear explanation

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

While in some cases nearly identical to obvious , 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 is it sensible to use 'evident' instead of 'obvious'?

Although the words evident and obvious have much in common, evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion. // an evident fondness for sweets

Q: When might 'manifest' be a better fit than 'obvious'?

The words manifest and obvious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required. // manifest hostility

Q: When would 'patent' be a good substitute for 'obvious'?

While the synonyms patent and obvious are close in meaning, patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it. // patent defects

Q: When could 'plain' be used to replace 'obvious'?

In some situations, the words plain and obvious are roughly equivalent. However, plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration. // her feelings about him are plain

obvious

adjective

ˈäb-vē-əs

Definition of obvious next

as in apparent

not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation that remark was an obvious joke, so lighten up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in blatant

very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad obvious errors in the book that the editor or proofreader should have caught

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective obvious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of obvious are apparent, clear, distinct, evident, manifest, patent, and plain. While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

How do apparent and evident relate to one another, in the sense of obvious?

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

for no apparent reason

When is clear a more appropriate choice than obvious?

The synonyms clear and obvious are sometimes interchangeable, but clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

In what contexts can distinct take the place of obvious?

While in some cases nearly identical to obvious, distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

When is it sensible to use evident instead of obvious?

Although the words evident and obvious have much in common, evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

When might manifest be a better fit than obvious?

The words manifest and obvious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

When would patent be a good substitute for obvious?

While the synonyms patent and obvious are close in meaning, patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

When could plain be used to replace obvious?

In some situations, the words plain and obvious are roughly equivalent. However, 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 obvious The sedan sustained obvious damage to the rear, passenger-side fender, police said. —

Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026 That, Baldassare said, wasn’t a hard argument to make during the COVID-19 pandemic, when immigrants were celebrated as essential workers and the link between individual well-being and public health was more obvious. —

Christine Mai-Duc, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 But sporting visibility presents obvious challenges in Iran. —

Tamara Davison, Wired News, 17 June 2026 The size of container structures is the most obvious drawback. —

Caitlin Gunther, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obvious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obvious

Adjective

Two men were found unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 28 June 2026
The potential perils of this were apparent in Delaware, where a Caesar Rodney impersonator was manning the booth (the Caesar Rodney Institute was the sponsor).

— Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026

Definition of apparent

Adjective

And to society, the implications of such blatant cronyism could be sweeping, from atrophying regulation and loss of accountability to further concentration of power and money among the wealthiest people on Earth.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 June 2026
Someone behaves with a blatant lack of consideration for others.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

Definition of blatant

Adjective

Eiglarsh added that while the suffering of the families was evident throughout the trial, the defense successfully argued that the crash was a tragic accident.

— Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 24 June 2026
As part of this shift, Cuban officers are opting to train soldiers in guerrilla tactics rather than conventional warfare — a strategic departure corroborated by Cancian that is also evident in the footage.

— Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 24 June 2026

Definition of evident

Adjective

Ahead, design experts share the five most glaring living room flaws, plus advice for remedying them.

— Madeline Bilis, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2026
Astronomers are puzzled that such a glaring inconsistency could have gone unnoticed in existing data, such as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), which provides our earliest snapshot of the universe.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 25 June 2026

Definition of glaring

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

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

Adjective

Both Kalshi and Polymarket argue that trading on their platforms is distinct from gambling.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Schneider also has some distinct tattoos, including a cherry blossom on her right thigh, stylist scissors on her left inner forearm and a flower on the top of her left foot.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026

Definition of distinct

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“Obvious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obvious. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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