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 Arasha enjoys a few choice manipulative moves in her litany of parts, reversing situations that seem to have no obvious good outcome. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 The mistakes were so obvious that all decided to take responsibility publicly. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The pass rush offers the most obvious room for improvement — but also the ability to obtain some improvement. — Sam McDowell 12, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026 Without any obvious choice to rally around like Kendrick Lamar, hip-hop is likely to go as unrecognized in the major categories as country usually does. — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obvious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obvious

Adjective

The Trying star is leading The Death of Sherlock Holmes, which fills the gap between the detective’s apparent death at the Reichenbach Falls in 1891 and his reappearance in The Adventure of the Empty House three years later.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Investigators with the city of Douglas, Georgia have released the identities of the five adults killed in an apparent murder-suicide last week.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of apparent

Adjective

This blatant, quid pro quo charade with Putin confirms that America’s values and priorities have never been his own.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Such actions are scaring people away from coming to court, whether as witnesses, defendants or observers, Bonta said, and amount to a blatant abuse of power.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of blatant

Adjective

The brasserie has Provençal leanings evident in a few of the menu’s flourishes—crisp triangular panisses with a garlicky aioli, a pinky-peach sauce algérienne for dipping your fries.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
And something more substantial, even, than the ongoing oddity of just where Washington Square Park fits into the scheme of things as it’s gone from an evident linchpin of the project to an apparent afterthought.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of evident

Adjective

But as a new class of pop stars has established themselves as formidable commercial forces across metrics, there’s a glaring absence of Black women.

— Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026
Clark was responding to the comments Mitchell made Saturday during her exit interview and the challenges that of living life in such a glaring spotlight.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of glaring

Adjective

Down the block, Curtis walked around his neighborhood with the unmistakable countenance of someone who had just survived a disaster.

— Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
The brass, the percussion, the unmistakable sound of banda, all carrying a piece of home.

— Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of unmistakable

Adjective

That experience is backed up by research and investigations in various states, which make clear that voting by noncitizens is extremely rare.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Unequivocally condemn these acts of violence and issue a clear appeal for every mobilization to be peaceful.

— Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of clear

Adjective

The resulting songs are refreshingly straightforward, and self-aware about it.

— Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Giving Americans $1,000 or $5,000 invested in a technology index is a straightforward idea; The source and use of the funds will likely be of great debate.

— Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of straightforward

Adjective

Coleman said each design has its own distinct character and can be styled individually, either as a subtle everyday detail or a sculptural statement.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Scientists have performed cosmic genealogy on planetary systems in the Milky Way, finding two distinct families that influence the evolution and fate of these systems.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of distinct

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“Obvious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obvious. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of obvious

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