as in discreet
not readily seen or noticed
the notice that an 18% tip would be automatically added was so unobtrusive we almost didn't see it at the bottom of the menu
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Recent Examples of unobtrusive
That exclusivity is reflected in the attentive yet unobtrusive service.
—
Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
One trend that has gained traction is the use of low-profile, unobtrusive structures that prioritize the land over the building.
—Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
The dish was so simple and unobtrusive; no one flavor or ingredient dominating the stage.
—Charlotte Observer, 17 Dec. 2025
The film’s most powerful scene arrives when Turdugul’s grandmother refuses to sell her property to routine opportunists and laments about a vanishing village that has been slipping through her fingers — an occasion Akynbekov and Kubat approach with an unobtrusive, documentarian aesthetic.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unobtrusive
Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
One trend that has gained traction is the use of low-profile, unobtrusive structures that prioritize the land over the building.
—Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
The dish was so simple and unobtrusive; no one flavor or ingredient dominating the stage.
—Charlotte Observer, 17 Dec. 2025
The film’s most powerful scene arrives when Turdugul’s grandmother refuses to sell her property to routine opportunists and laments about a vanishing village that has been slipping through her fingers — an occasion Akynbekov and Kubat approach with an unobtrusive, documentarian aesthetic.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unobtrusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unobtrusive
Adjective
-
Each sock features a discreet zippered pocket on the calf, just big enough to fit a credit card, a hotel key, or a wad of cash.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
-
These are not shoes that seek to be discreet or even reinvent the wheel—they’re simply a reminder that fashion can, and should, be fun.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Minnie is practically invisible to most of the students at North Little Rock High School, which is what makes her friendship with Callie — the most popular girl in her class — so special.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Even when these handsome young men are obviously posing for Tress’s camera, the work is rich and fascinating, providing a view into a world otherwise all but invisible to passersby.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This is the kind of look that doesn’t go unnoticed.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
15 Feb. 2026
-
In cooked dishes, the bitterness is usually milder and may go unnoticed.—
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unobtrusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unobtrusive. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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