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

Relevance

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 gym is very well equipped and divided into cardio and weight rooms, though this is the place where the need for renovation is most obvious. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026 The model can spot obvious fakes, but Fleek also runs quality-check centers in Karachi and Delhi that inspect items from brands and categories its data has flagged as frequently counterfeited. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 July 2026 Rather than making her emotions obvious, Cardellini leaned into the character’s restraint. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 8 July 2026 Some were super obvious, like the Manhattan for New York, or the Sazerac for Louisiana. — Kate Bradshaw, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 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

The Institutional Revolution The first transformation was institutional, immediate, and unmistakable.

— Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
This band may have created millions of fans, but its influence on the 80s rock music is unmistakable.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026

Definition of unmistakable

Adjective

Just how charged the debate has become was clear when the Greens filed a motion of no confidence against the government on Thursday over its heatwave response.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
The Million Dollar Highway is open year-round, but it’s periodically closed to clear rockslides and avalanches.

— Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Definition of clear

Adjective

Compared with platforms that emphasize community groups or compatibility questionnaires, OurTime focuses primarily on helping older adults browse profiles, discover potential matches, and communicate with other members in a straightforward format.

— Matthew Kayser Updated July 6, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
The musical’s overture gives you a sense of the complexity that’s needed to make seeming simple and straightforward material really soar.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026

Definition of straightforward

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“Obvious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obvious. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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