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 That reality was made all the more obvious by the unwatchable football in the final three games without him. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026 After all, that makes sense, but alas, like much else in Cody Fern‘s directorial debut, even the most obvious of choices simply don’t add up. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026 Sure, they may be tucked behind an unmarked door or disguised as something else, but these venues are usually so well-established or the clues so obvious that everyone knows what’s up. — Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2026 When to Call a Professional While homeowners can visually check vents for blockages and look for obvious insulation or air-sealing problems, a professional should handle more complex issues, Hicks says. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obvious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obvious

Adjective

His managerial shortcomings have been apparent at times, and his expiring contract made everything seemingly less complicated.

— Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Eco effort The Rosewood group has a green initiative that includes energy conservation, prioritizing sustainability, and embracing a sense of place, but specifics about the Vienna hotel weren’t apparent.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of apparent

Adjective

Wolff’s blatant disregard of hunting and fishing laws, including earlier incidents that led to his hunting and fishing licenses being revoked, was well known by local residents and law enforcement officers.

— David Zeug, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
Some critics have argued that the watermark will prove largely ineffective for flagging anything short of blatant chatbot use.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of blatant

Adjective

That wasn’t for a lack of skill, though, and his repertoire has again been evident this summer during another productive training camp.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
That was quite evident at Evans on Saturday afternoon in this year’s edition of the Soul Bowl.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of evident

Adjective

Tesla’s flashy unveiling of its Cybercab robotaxi in 2024 left some glaring questions unanswered.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 10 Sep. 2026
The bullpen is the glaring issue, but playing the Brewers seems to put the importance of every aspect of the Cubs’ performance under a microscope.

— Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of glaring

Adjective

If brand copy should be taken with a gallon of Morton, Elsesser’s duality is unmistakable.

— Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
There are plenty of dishes unique to Palm Beach, too—crudos, handmade pastas, lobster salad, and a particularly tempting dessert list—but the Riviera influence is unmistakable.

— Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of unmistakable

Adjective

Mourinho’s aim to get closer to his players has been especially clear with the team’s biggest names.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Congress has bipartisan bills in the works aimed at setting clearer federal consumer protections, including age verification.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of clear

Adjective

What might have been an exciting matchup between two power hitters was instead a straightforward drubbing, largely because Osaka couldn’t serve at full power.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Grab this straightforward daily workhorse for a solid $180 off.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of straightforward

Adjective

The Pigeon Sisters — Desi Amato as Gwendolyn and Penny Amara as Cecily — are played as distinct individuals rather than as near-twins as often happens.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Sometimes those differences, while distinct, still touch the same product in some way.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of distinct

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Style

“Obvious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obvious. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of obvious

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