salient

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective salient differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of salient are conspicuous, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, and striking. While all these words mean "attracting notice or attention," salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it.

the salient points of the speech

When might conspicuous be a better fit than salient?

Although the words conspicuous and salient have much in common, conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind.

conspicuous bureaucratic waste

When can noticeable be used instead of salient?

While in some cases nearly identical to salient, noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation.

a piano recital with no noticeable errors

When is it sensible to use outstanding instead of salient?

The words outstanding and salient can be used in similar contexts, but outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind.

honored for her outstanding contributions to science

When would prominent be a good substitute for salient?

The meanings of prominent and salient largely overlap; however, prominent applies to something commanding notice by standing out from its surroundings or background.

a doctor who occupies a prominent position in the town

When is remarkable a more appropriate choice than salient?

While the synonyms remarkable and salient are close in meaning, remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment.

a film of remarkable intelligence and wit

In what contexts can striking take the place of salient?

The synonyms striking and salient are sometimes interchangeable, but striking applies to something that impresses itself powerfully and deeply upon the observer's mind or vision.

the region's striking poverty

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 salient Still, the show does indeed deal with salient issues of aging, caregiving, and the importance of both listening to oldsters and passing on your truths to the next generation. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025 But that possibility doesn’t mean the fight for disabled dignity—the fight for dignity of all kinds—is any less salient. John Hendrickson, The Atlantic, 23 May 2025 Walmart is much more U.S. centric but their view on inflation and how tariffs may impact prices is salient. Jj Kinahan, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 But the most salient thing Coughlin did in 2011 was say yes to Emada Tingirides. Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for salient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for salient
Adjective
  • How to spot a fake Social Security scam email While phishing emails are designed to look convincing, there are always subtle but important signs that give them away.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2025
  • Burch said an important part of helping someone experiencing intimate partner violence is to give them back their sense of power and control.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • There have been 50 major model releases in just the first six months of 2025, with lots of different sizes, features, and use cases (see the table below).
    Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The tour marks Ballerini’s first visit to Australia in seven years, and follows her major U.S. arena tour supporting her 2024 album PATTERNS.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Julie Mehretu, one of the most prominent contemporary artists in the world.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The recent endorsement of Sliwa by prominent Jewish leader Dov Hikind has only solidified their certainty that the Orthodox voting bloc will put him over the top.
    Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • The ribbed texture is noticeable, but not too thick, and the contouring on the back and front could not be more flattering.
    Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025
  • The team issued an advisory noting that residents in nearby communities may see a noticeable increase in smoke July 5 coming from the southwest flank of the Oak Ridge Fire.
    Arlyssa D. Becenti, AZCentral.com, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • From September 25-28, the Windy City hosts Chicago Gourmet one of the nation’s most distinguished food festivals.
    Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Developers feed their chatbot models on a torrent of material, much of it scraped from the web — everything from distinguished literary works to random babbling — as well as collections holding millions of books, articles, scientific papers and the like, some of it copyrighted.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Salient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/salient. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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