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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 most obvious trap a duo can fall into? Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025 With this year's costumes trend predicted to be pop culture-heavy, obvious duo costumes, like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, come to mind. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025 The kerfuffle within Your Party has spawned endless jokes, memes, and obvious schadenfreude among its rivals. Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2025 One of the most obvious is the owner’s deck, measuring an impressive 3,200 square feet, inside and out. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for obvious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obvious
Adjective
  • Foreclosure would become nonviable as a means of tax collection — with no readily apparent alternative means for timely collection of the delinquent revenue.
    Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Remember, magnitude is the scale used by astronomers to chart the apparent brightness of an object in the night sky.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So what's up with all the blatant disrespect and body-shaming for the man infamously known for wearing another player as a backpack, and smashing heads and eating them?
    Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
  • But opponents saw the move as a blatant attempt to short-circuit the investigation into Russian hacking of the 2016 presidential election.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The impact of this team is evident not only in their buildings but in their relationships.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • While some laws have changed, the wealth is evident even on a brief visit.
    Vivienne Walt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But the Democratic Party seems to prefer a selective vision of free speech, one that ignores the most glaring and visible current example of suppression.
    Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
  • His most glaring mistake came in the bottom of the fifth, when Seiya Suzuki deposited a fastball that caught too much plate in the left-field bleachers.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • When Swift won the 2015 Grammy for album of the year, cameras captured Gomez tearing up in the audience, her pride unmistakable.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The reference point was unmistakable.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The details of his condition and what prompted his lengthy absence are not clear, although a news release issued by the city last year said Richardson had undergone multiple life-threatening surgeries.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Progressives have struggled to counteract that, lacking both the money and a clear storyline.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Once numbing kicks in, most patients describe the day as straightforward.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • That concentration makes capture relatively straightforward by routing the exhaust through chemical scrubbers, binding the CO2, compressing and storing it underground.
    Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • One site, as reported by Phys, had a distinct path, whereas another lacked these types of markers.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Among the most popular are Scorpios, Macakizi, and Xuma Village, each offering its own distinct energy, style, and soundtrack.
    Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Obvious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obvious. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on obvious

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