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

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 Nolan’s gifts are excessively obvious, and even when his characters don’t stir you, his filmmaking does. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 15 July 2026 Clean produce handling The first measure, and perhaps the most obvious—but still worth noting—is clean produce handling. — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026 And the line between harmless and hazardous isn’t always obvious. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026 For example, a woman complaining of fatigue or brain fog may have labs without any obvious issues. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for obvious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obvious

Adjective

Still Clinton, deep down, did not think that voters would give the majority of their votes to Trump and the reasons were numerous and quite apparent – at least to the Democrats.

— Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2026
Still, many categories saw the same familiar faces show up, and there’s perhaps nowhere where that’s more apparent than the Animated Series lineup.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026

Definition of apparent

Adjective

Commissioned by Mattel as a blatant weekly half-hour commercial for its popular toy line, the show pits He-Man and his heroic chums against the evil (but strangely inept) Skeletor in a battle for control of Castle Grayskull.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 July 2026
However, the fun police in the NBA’s legal department would (correctly) view this is as blatant cap circumvention, and would not treat this as a laughing matter.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 29 June 2026

Definition of blatant

Adjective

The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.

— Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
That rotation was quite evident in our portfolio across Wednesday and Thursday, with the likes of AI winner Corning selling off hard and once-unloved Johnson & Johnson finishing the week at a record close.

— Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 July 2026

Definition of evident

Adjective

Sources report to Entertainment Weekly that CBS — the network responsible for this glaring lack of security — launched a full-scale investigation into the matter… only to see the data from that investigation mysteriously wiped from their servers.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
And his absence for a few playoff games was absolutely glaring.

— Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of glaring

Adjective

While there does still seem to be a clear advantage — in five of the past seven finals, the team playing their semi-final first has won — there have at least been two examples of the eventual champions coming from the second semi-final.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Fort Worth city officials say the goal is to create rules that protect neighborhoods while setting clear standards for future data center development.

— Ken Molestina, CBS News, 14 July 2026

Definition of clear

Adjective

The appeal for Philadelphia, from a basketball standpoint, is straightforward and multi-pronged.

— Tony Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
But while both certificates of deposit (CDs) and high-yield savings accounts continue to advertise attractive yields, deciding where to park that money isn't always a straightforward process.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Definition of straightforward

Adjective

Instead of painting a broad picture that included all leading forms of content distribution — movie theaters, broadcast and cable television as well as streaming platforms — the states zeroed in on three distinct slices.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Data, on the other hand, shows a distinct generational divide.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Definition of distinct

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“Obvious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obvious. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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