CONSPICUOUS Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'conspicuous' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of conspicuous are noticeable , outstanding , prominent , remarkable , salient , and striking . While all these words mean "attracting notice or attention," conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind. // conspicuous bureaucratic waste

Q: In what contexts can 'noticeable' take the place of 'conspicuous'?

The meanings of noticeable and conspicuous largely overlap; however, noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation. // a piano recital with no noticeable errors

Q: When can 'outstanding' be used instead of 'conspicuous'?

Although the words outstanding and conspicuous have much in common, outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind. // honored for her outstanding contributions to science

Q: Where would 'prominent' be a reasonable alternative to 'conspicuous'?

The words prominent and conspicuous 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

Q: When would 'remarkable' be a good substitute for 'conspicuous'?

While in some cases nearly identical to conspicuous , remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment. // a film of remarkable intelligence and wit

Q: When might 'salient' be a better fit than 'conspicuous'?

While the synonyms salient and conspicuous are close in meaning, salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it. // the salient points of the speech

Q: When is 'striking' a more appropriate choice than 'conspicuous'?

The synonyms striking and conspicuous 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

conspicuous

adjective

kən-ˈspi-kyə-wəs

Definition of conspicuous next

as in noticeable

likely to attract attention the seven-foot-tall basketball player is conspicuous in any crowd

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obvious

very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad conspicuous bureaucratic waste that drives taxpayers crazy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective conspicuous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of conspicuous are noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, and striking. While all these words mean "attracting notice or attention," conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind.

conspicuous bureaucratic waste

In what contexts can noticeable take the place of conspicuous?

The meanings of noticeable and conspicuous largely overlap; however, noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation.

a piano recital with no noticeable errors

When can outstanding be used instead of conspicuous?

Although the words outstanding and conspicuous have much in common, outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind.

honored for her outstanding contributions to science

Where would prominent be a reasonable alternative to conspicuous?

The words prominent and conspicuous 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 would remarkable be a good substitute for conspicuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to conspicuous, remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment.

a film of remarkable intelligence and wit

When might salient be a better fit than conspicuous?

While the synonyms salient and conspicuous are close in meaning, salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it.

the salient points of the speech

When is striking a more appropriate choice than conspicuous?

The synonyms striking and conspicuous 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

Examples 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 conspicuous So the hocus-pocus of GPT halting on my name is a rare but conspicuous leaf on a much larger tree of model control. —

Jonathan L. Zittrain, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024 The stores average almost 5,000 square feet in size, have parking spaces and stand on their own, as opposed to being inline and less conspicuous in malls. —

David Moin, WWD, 4 Dec. 2024 Eggers’s movies are rendered distinctive by the intensity of their investment in their images—less a matter of the aesthetic of what’s being presented than of the conspicuous concentration of energy (and of material) on their creation. —

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024 Sight gags baked into the production design (the books the Gromit reads or the signs that populate the sets) and gnome puns aplenty make for a ride in which every frame packs a dense layer of comedy, at times conspicuous, others not so much. —

Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for conspicuous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspicuous

Adjective

And perhaps the most noticeable change: BMW eliminated the traditional gauge cluster in the dash in favor of a customizable digital version projected onto the windshield.

Abigail Bassett, The Verge, 7 Jan. 2025
Erivo has long been synonymous with her nails—but her manicures were especially noticeable while promoting Wicked.

Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 5 Jan. 2025