manifest 1 of 3

Definition of manifestnext

manifest

2 of 3

verb

manifest

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective manifest contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manifest are apparent, clear, distinct, evident, obvious, patent, and plain. While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

How do apparent and evident relate to one another, in the sense of manifest?

Apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

When could clear be used to replace manifest?

The words clear and manifest can be used in similar contexts, but clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

In what contexts can distinct take the place of manifest?

The meanings of distinct and manifest largely overlap; however, distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

When might evident be a better fit than manifest?

While in some cases nearly identical to manifest, evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

Where would obvious be a reasonable alternative to manifest?

While the synonyms obvious and manifest are close in meaning, obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

When can patent be used instead of manifest?

The words patent and manifest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

When is plain a more appropriate choice than manifest?

Although the words plain and manifest have much in common, plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration.

her feelings about him are plain

How does the adjective manifest contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manifest are apparent, clear, distinct, evident, obvious, patent, and plain. While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

How do apparent and evident relate to one another, in the sense of manifest?

Apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

When could clear be used to replace manifest?

The words clear and manifest can be used in similar contexts, but clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

In what contexts can distinct take the place of manifest?

The meanings of distinct and manifest largely overlap; however, distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

When might evident be a better fit than manifest?

While in some cases nearly identical to manifest, evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

Where would obvious be a reasonable alternative to manifest?

While the synonyms obvious and manifest are close in meaning, obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

When can patent be used instead of manifest?

The words patent and manifest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

When is plain a more appropriate choice than manifest?

Although the words plain and manifest have much in common, plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration.

her feelings about him are plain

How does the adjective manifest contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manifest are apparent, clear, distinct, evident, obvious, patent, and plain. While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

How do apparent and evident relate to one another, in the sense of manifest?

Apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

When could clear be used to replace manifest?

The words clear and manifest can be used in similar contexts, but clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

In what contexts can distinct take the place of manifest?

The meanings of distinct and manifest largely overlap; however, distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

When might evident be a better fit than manifest?

While in some cases nearly identical to manifest, evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

Where would obvious be a reasonable alternative to manifest?

While the synonyms obvious and manifest are close in meaning, obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

When can patent be used instead of manifest?

The words patent and manifest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

When is plain a more appropriate choice than manifest?

Although the words plain and manifest have much in common, plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration.

her feelings about him are plain

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 manifest
Adjective
A lot of what’s gone on is just multiple expansion, optimism about a weaker dollar, excitement about consumer spending trends overseas and other ephemeral ideas that haven’t yet become manifest in the companies’ actual results. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026 The chance to get the scoop on the scandal straight from the mouth of the man who made it, as well as his living-the-dream experience of working alongside his hero, is enough to make this required viewing for anyone interested in hip-hop legacies and fanboy fantasies made manifest. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
And that’s manifested in one helluva Norris trophy race. Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 To be manifesting it, as the kids say. Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
On our April Mediterranean sailing—he ship’s third since its maiden voyage—the manifest ran the gamut. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026 When did the thought first manifest to start the podcast? Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for manifest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manifest
Adjective
  • Ri’s process is evident in the surfaces themselves — scratched, layered, built up, and worn down.
    Olga Garcia-Mayoral, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Wilson’s Defense of Batula Amid Kyle Cooke Drama Wilson’s closeness to Batula was already evident to viewers this season, particularly during a tense on‑camera argument between Batula and Cooke that escalated late one night.
    Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Thirty-one years after winning Best Actor for Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks and the film’s cast are still revealing behind-the-scenes secrets — from a studio standoff over money to a prosthetic lip that nearly destroyed an actor’s career.
    Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Unlike Diana, Kate’s ‘Balmoral Test’ and subsequent visits might reveal her more durable alignment with the family’s dynamics, both in private and public.
    Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Bringing fans together—alongside Barbie role models, designers, partners and global icons who embody the true spirit of Barbie—was at the heart of this event.
    Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Illinois embodies that mindset this year.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Taking into account how much profits are expected to grow in the coming year for companies in the S&P 500, the index looks roughly 17% cheaper than before the war, by one measure.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Factors included median household income, livability index, and average retirement income.
    Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • On Sunday, Ukrainian drones attacked Primorsk, Russia's largest oil export port on the Baltic Sea, damaging an oil reservoir and oil loading infrastructure, Ukraine's general staff said in a social media post.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The shooter and his pals passed the gun to each other in a bedroom, loading and unloading the ammo, prosecutors say.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Then Evans made another 3, prompting Pitino to turn his back in apparent disbelief.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The White House’s inability to grasp the agency of others — its apparent lack of a theory of mind for everyone outside its walls — gives Democrats, especially, a distinct advantage.
    Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • And, to honor the occasion, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (Mucem), in Marseille, decided to display a guillotine in full view.
    Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
  • French cheeses displayed in a store in Paris.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Rodriguez expressed mixed feelings about the district's long-term plan.
    Da Lin, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • While people sometimes express this view in jest, others believe the fake environment borders on a cultural abomination.
    Adam Kadlac, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Manifest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manifest. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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