Synonyms of striking

striking 1 of 2

adjective

ˈstrī-kiŋ 

1

as in noticeable

likely to attract attention

you'd be amazed what a striking difference new wallpaper can make in a room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• noticeable
• prominent
• commanding
• dramatic
• remarkable
• impressive
• marked
• conspicuous
• brilliant
• pronounced
• interesting
• outstanding
• emphatic
• showy
• arresting
• bold
• flamboyant
• eye-catching
• visible
• distinguished
• notable
• noisy
• catchy
• loud
• noteworthy
• splashy
• glaring
• salient
• recognizable
• discernible
• highlighted
• detectable
• perceptible
• kenspeckle
• observable
• bodacious
• fascinating
• spectacular
• ornate
• grabby
• eminent
• fancy
• extravagant
• flagrant
• screaming
• gaudy
• flashy
• garish
• absorbing
• glitzy
• riveting
• tawdry
• swank
• enthralling
• meretricious
• jazzy
• opulent
• engrossing
• ostentatious
• spotlighted
• pretentious
• florid
• overwrought
• howling
• glittery
• overdone
• highfalutin

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subtle
• inconspicuous
• unremarkable
• unobtrusive
• unnoticeable
• hidden
• faint
• concealed
• obscure
• unemphatic
• unshowy
• insignificant
• shrouded
• dim
• unflamboyant
• simple
• unimportant
• modest
• unaffected
• undistinguished
• plain
• unassuming
• quiet
• conservative
• understated
• unpretentious
• subdued
• restrained
• muted
• unflashy
• toned-down

2

as in obvious

very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad

several striking contradictions in her argument

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obvious
• glaring
• blatant
• conspicuous
• gross
• pronounced
• distinct
• egregious
• outstanding
• patent
• flagrant
• noticeable
• remarkable
• dramatic
• clear
• notable
• sheer
• terrible
• salient
• prominent
• evident
• marked
• emphatic
• showy
• rank
• eye-catching
• arresting
• visible
• shocking
• discernible
• plain
• monstrous
• stark
• detectable
• utter
• perceptible
• outright
• observable
• outrageous
• downright
• absolute
• shameful
• splashy
• heinous
• deplorable
• awful
• abominable
• out-and-out
• atrocious
• preposterous
• arrant
• execrable
• lousy
• wretched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inconspicuous
• unobtrusive
• small
• imperceptible
• slight
• trivial
• insignificant
• trifling
• inconsiderable
• inconsequential
• hidden
• unnoticeable
• invisible
• concealed

striking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of strike

1

as in walking

to refuse to work in order to force an employer to meet demands

the union is calling for its members to strike until the mining company agrees to meet safety standards

Synonyms & Similar Words

• walking
• walking out
• sitting in
• locking out

2

as in affecting

to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response

we were struck by the willingness of total strangers to go out of their way to help us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• affecting
• influencing
• impressing
• impacting
• touching
• interesting
• reaching
• inspiring
• swaying
• fascinating
• involving
• telling (on)
• moving
• dazzling
• disturbing
• bothering
• getting to
• attracting
• ravishing
• concerning
• penetrating
• troubling
• worrying
• stirring
• enchanting
• engaging
• carrying away
• distressing
• entrancing
• disquieting
• captivating
• upsetting
• transporting
• charming
• biasing
• plaguing
• trying
• piercing
• afflicting
• harassing
• perturbing
• coloring
• enthralling
• stressing
• alluring
• enrapturing
• bewitching
• smiting
• discomforting
• agitating
• pestering
• harrying
• wringing
• flustering
• straining
• discomposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• boring
• tiring
• wearying
• palling
• jading
• underwhelming

3

as in occurring (to)

to enter the mind of

it struck her later that no one at the bank had asked for identification

Synonyms & Similar Words

• occurring (to)
• crossing
• coming (to)
• remembering
• appearing
• arriving
• dawning (on)
• emerging
• recalling
• recollecting
• learning
• memorizing
• reminiscing
• conning
• materializing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forgetting
• ignoring
• overlooking
• disregarding
• neglecting
• unlearning

4

as in bumping

to come into usually forceful contact with something

the thump of hailstones striking the cars in the parking lot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bumping
• colliding
• banging
• slamming
• smashing
• knocking
• crashing
• hitting
• ramming
• thudding
• impinging
• impacting
• glancing
• bashing
• swiping
• sweeping
• bouncing
• touching
• scraping
• contacting
• ricocheting
• brushing
• skipping
• pushing
• rebounding
• kissing
• landing
• skimming
• grazing
• nudging
• caroming
• clunking
• jostling
• shaving
• pressing
• bulldozing
• muscling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• missing
• skirting

5

as in hitting

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

the driver of the car behind me applied his brakes too late and struck my car from the rear

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hitting
• knocking
• slapping
• punching
• smacking
• slamming
• banging
• whacking
• pounding
• clapping
• clipping
• cracking
• swiping
• kicking
• nailing
• batting
• hammering
• thumping
• tapping
• bashing
• jabbing
• pushing
• socking
• poking
• bludgeoning
• boxing
• smiting
• licking
• bobbing
• thwacking
• slugging
• flicking
• clobbering
• clocking
• stabbing
• clouting
• swatting
• shoving
• belting
• chopping
• tagging
• rapping
• zapping
• pasting
• stroking
• bopping
• busting
• walloping
• bumping
• whaling
• bonking
• biffing
• slogging
• beating
• pummeling
• battering
• slashing
• peppering
• mauling
• hanging one on
• lashing
• roughing
• mangling
• stamping
• cuffing
• scuffing
• lambasting
• pelting
• buffeting
• whipping
• jostling
• dumping
• butting
• prodding
• lacing
• bunting
• drubbing
• kneeing
• flailing
• felling
• switching
• spearing
• bunging
• sapping
• bowling (down or over)
• knocking down
• pommeling
• clubbing
• thrashing
• decking
• creaming
• flogging
• cudgeling
• sucker punching
• caning
• leveling
• flooring
• sledgehammering
• braining
• conking
• sledging
• rabbit-punching
• skulling
• beaning

6

as in dismantling

to take apart

the stagehands struck the sets the morning after the play closed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dismantling
• disconnecting
• detaching
• dividing
• dismembering
• dismounting
• taking down
• disassembling
• knocking down
• separating
• disengaging
• breaking down
• demounting
• disarticulating
• disaggregating
• disjointing
• disuniting
• dissevering
• disjoining
• breaking up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• constructing
• building
• assembling
• combining
• erecting
• pitching
• uniting

7

as in attacking

to take sudden, violent action against

a rattlesnake strikes its prey with lightning speed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attacking
• assaulting
• raiding
• storming
• robbing
• charging
• ambushing
• turning (on)
• descending (on or upon)
• assailing
• swarming
• rushing
• invading
• jumping (on)
• flying at
• surprising
• going in (on)
• besetting
• setting at
• setting on
• pouncing (on or upon)
• going at
• setting upon
• tearing into
• trashing
• siccing
• bushwhacking
• pitching into
• beating up on
• flanking
• rounding on
• sacking
• lighting into
• bombing
• mobbing
• besieging
• mugging
• battering
• ganging up (on)
• ravaging
• bombarding
• waylaying
• blitzing
• plundering
• cannonading
• enveloping
• buffeting
• nuking
• barraging
• looting
• banging away (at)
• harrying
• bum-rushing
• ambuscading
• pillaging
• cannoning
• pressing
• plastering
• beleaguering
• overrunning
• foraying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• covering
• protecting
• securing
• defending
• shielding
• guarding

8

as in possessing

to cast a spell on

the only way that she's going to get a man is if she strikes one

Synonyms & Similar Words

• possessing
• charming
• enchanting
• bewitching
• spelling
• tempting
• cursing
• seducing
• overlooking
• fascinating
• captivating
• attracting
• mesmerizing
• ensorcelling
• hexing
• enticing
• spellbinding
• luring
• beguiling
• voodooing
• jinxing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blessing

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective striking differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of striking are conspicuous, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, and salient. While all these words mean "attracting notice or attention," striking applies to something that impresses itself powerfully and deeply upon the observer's mind or vision.

the region's striking poverty

When is conspicuous a more appropriate choice than striking?

The meanings of conspicuous and striking largely overlap; however, conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind.

conspicuous bureaucratic waste

When would noticeable be a good substitute for striking?

The synonyms noticeable and striking are sometimes interchangeable, but noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation.

a piano recital with no noticeable errors

When could outstanding be used to replace striking?

While the synonyms outstanding and striking are close in meaning, outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind.

honored for her outstanding contributions to science

When might prominent be a better fit than striking?

The words prominent and striking can be used in similar contexts, but 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 it sensible to use remarkable instead of striking?

In some situations, the words remarkable and striking are roughly equivalent. However, remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment.

a film of remarkable intelligence and wit

Where would salient be a reasonable alternative to striking?

The words salient and striking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it.

the salient points of the speech

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of striking

Adjective

When the route for the 2026 Tour de France was announced in October, the double day in Alpe d’Huez was the most striking aspect. — Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 24 July 2026

One of the most striking moments in your article is your conversation with Raed Arafat, the head of Romania’s emergency services, who argues that an early warning system would cause more harm than good because the public is unprepared. — Andrei Popoviciu, The Dial, 23 July 2026

Verb

Three of the four officers at the scene fired at the gunman, police said, with one shot striking Karroll in the back, the bullet lodging in his vest. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026

One thing that’s striking in the book is the importance of the women in your life — especially your mom and your wife. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 24 July 2026