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
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 spinner is smooth, unobtrusive, and quiet — offering a small, thoughtful moment of focus without drawing attention.
—New Atlas, 4 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
Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
The spinner is smooth, unobtrusive, and quiet — offering a small, thoughtful moment of focus without drawing attention.
—New Atlas, 4 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
-
While the company largely stays out of the headlines, Applecart has a leading place in an emerging but discreet cohort of companies and organizations aimed at reaching key figures in industry and government.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
More discreet measures, including cyber intrusions, intelligence operations or actions with plausible deniability, could allow Washington to apply pressure without forcing Tehran into a direct military response.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And could those invisible shifts be measured?—
Mayo Clinic News Network,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The result is an invisible back-and-forth where Copilot keeps working for the attacker using your session.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Castillo’s family hard work has not gone unnoticed.—
Paula Soria,
AZCentral.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
According to the medical center, Cryptic pregnancies are rare, with studies suggesting about 1 in 475 pregnancies go unnoticed until about 20 weeks gestation, while about 1 in 2,500 pregnancies go unnoticed until delivery.—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unobtrusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unobtrusive. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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