conspicuous
adjective
con·spic·u·ous kən-ˈspi-kyə-wəs 
-kyü-əs
1
: obvious to the eye or mind
conspicuous changes
The bird has a conspicuous red head.
2
: attracting attention : striking
a conspicuous success
His absence was conspicuous.
3
: marked by a noticeable violation of good taste
conspicuously adverb
conspicuousness
kən-ˈspi-kyə-wəs-nəs
noun -kyü-əs-
Synonyms
- arresting
- bodacious
- bold
- brilliant
- catchy
- commanding
- dramatic
- emphatic
- eye-catching
- flamboyant
- grabby
- kenspeckle [chiefly Scottish]
- marked
- noisy
- noticeable
- prominent
- pronounced
- remarkable
- showy
- splashy
- striking
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Conspicuous species of large organisms with small populations are vulnerable—and several fishes and marine mammals, including Steller's sea cow, have succumbed. 
Stephen Jay Gould, Natural History, June 1991 Its most conspicuous feature was knee breeches, which showed off his well-turned legs and feet. Richard Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, 1984 There were a number of conspicuous changes to the building. The sign was placed in a very conspicuous spot. The bird has a conspicuous red head. She felt very conspicuous in her pink coat. He was uncomfortable about his conspicuous weight gain. The business was a conspicuous success. See More
Stephen Jay Gould, Natural History, June 1991 Its most conspicuous feature was knee breeches, which showed off his well-turned legs and feet. Richard Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, 1984 There were a number of conspicuous changes to the building. The sign was placed in a very conspicuous spot. The bird has a conspicuous red head. She felt very conspicuous in her pink coat. He was uncomfortable about his conspicuous weight gain. The business was a conspicuous success. See More Recent Examples on the Web In response to these policy setbacks, drone delivery companies have more recently adopted a less conspicuous strategy for acquiring private airspace rights that is flying under the radar of most property owners. Troy Rule, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2022 First, as the court noted, the contract terms were barely legible, much less conspicuous. Jack Greiner, The Enquirer, 3 May 2022 The shy reptile stayed low amongst the vegetation, barely visible but conspicuous by a soft, buzzing sound given off by its vibrating tail. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2022 John Winthrop’s famous sermon assumes that what happens in Massachusetts will be of interest to the world, at worst as a significant and conspicuous failure. Marilynne Robinson, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 Rather, their intervention is at its most emphatic, and most conspicuous, in the editing of the large body of interview footage (between fifty and sixty hours’ worth, according to Ophuls) into a taut, coherent narrative. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 July 2022 Considering that this parrot is relatively large and quite conspicuous, this is good evidence that its population was already small and scattered at the start of the nineteenth century. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 15 June 2022 However, conspicuous absences in major precursors, as well as the Best Director lineup, keep both out of our top tier. Nate Jones, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2021 The third entry in the venerable franchise, which will (maybe) bid farewell in October with David Gordon Green's Halloween Ends, was much-maligned at the time of release due to the conspicuous lack of one Michael Myers. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 25 June 2022 See More
Troy Rule, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2022 First, as the court noted, the contract terms were barely legible, much less conspicuous. Jack Greiner, The Enquirer, 3 May 2022 The shy reptile stayed low amongst the vegetation, barely visible but conspicuous by a soft, buzzing sound given off by its vibrating tail. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2022 John Winthrop’s famous sermon assumes that what happens in Massachusetts will be of interest to the world, at worst as a significant and conspicuous failure. Marilynne Robinson, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 Rather, their intervention is at its most emphatic, and most conspicuous, in the editing of the large body of interview footage (between fifty and sixty hours’ worth, according to Ophuls) into a taut, coherent narrative. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 July 2022 Considering that this parrot is relatively large and quite conspicuous, this is good evidence that its population was already small and scattered at the start of the nineteenth century. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 15 June 2022 However, conspicuous absences in major precursors, as well as the Best Director lineup, keep both out of our top tier. Nate Jones, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2021 The third entry in the venerable franchise, which will (maybe) bid farewell in October with David Gordon Green's Halloween Ends, was much-maligned at the time of release due to the conspicuous lack of one Michael Myers. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 25 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin conspicuus, from conspicere to get sight of, from com- + specere to look — more at spy
First Known Use
circa 1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing conspicuous
Kids Definition
conspicuous
adjective
con·spic·u·ous kən-ˈspi-kyə-wəs
1
: easily seen
Put the sign in a conspicuous spot.
2
: attracting attention : prominent
I felt conspicuous as I walked in late.
conspicuous
adjective
1
as in noticeable
likely to attract attention the seven-foot-tall basketball player is conspicuous in any crowd Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- noticeable
- prominent
- remarkable
- marked
- commanding
- dramatic
- striking
- impressive
- showy
- pronounced
- visible
- brilliant
- emphatic
- flamboyant
- outstanding
- interesting
- bold
- distinguished
- noisy
- notable
- eye-catching
- glaring
- arresting
- loud
- discernible
- noteworthy
- recognizable
- salient
- splashy
- highlighted
- perceptible
- catchy
- detectable
- observable
- bodacious
- flagrant
- grabby
- eminent
- extravagant
- discernable
- gaudy
- ostentatious
- ornate
- kenspeckle
- spectacular
- tawdry
- fascinating
- garish
- fancy
- flashy
- meretricious
- glitzy
- spotlighted
- swank
- pretentious
- screaming
- opulent
- florid
- howling
- overwrought
- glittery
- absorbing
- swanky
- jazzy
- engrossing
- riveting
- enthralling
- overdone
- hifalutin
- highfalutin
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inconspicuous
- unobtrusive
- subtle
- unremarkable
- hidden
- obscure
- concealed
- unemphatic
- faint
- insignificant
- unnoticeable
- unimportant
- shrouded
- unshowy
- undistinguished
- unflamboyant
- dim
- modest
- unassuming
- subtle
- unaffected
- simple
- plain
- unpretentious
- quiet
- understated
- conservative
- subdued
- restrained
- muted
- unflashy
- toned-down
2
as in obvious
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad conspicuous bureaucratic waste that drives taxpayers crazy Synonyms & Similar Words
- obvious
- blatant
- glaring
- striking
- gross
- noticeable
- egregious
- flagrant
- pronounced
- distinct
- prominent
- patent
- marked
- notable
- outstanding
- clear
- sheer
- showy
- remarkable
- salient
- evident
- visible
- terrible
- dramatic
- rank
- emphatic
- discernible
- plain
- perceptible
- detectable
- eye-catching
- stark
- monstrous
- arresting
- observable
- shameful
- utter
- outright
- downright
- shocking
- arrant
- absolute
- discernable
- outrageous
- abominable
- splashy
- heinous
- awful
- deplorable
- out-and-out
- atrocious
- preposterous
- execrable
- lousy
- wretched
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inconspicuous
- unobtrusive
- imperceptible
- small
- insignificant
- inconsiderable
- trivial
- unnoticeable
- slight
- inconsequential
- trifling
- invisible
- hidden
- concealed
Synonym Chooser
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
The meanings of noticeable and conspicuous largely overlap; however, noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation.
a piano recital with no noticeable errors
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
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
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
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
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
- rhomb spar
- rhombencephala
- rhombencephalon
- rhombencephalons
- rhombi
- rhombic
- rhombic sulfur
- rhombiccer
- rhombiccest
- rhombicer
- rhombicest
- rhombiform
- rhombo-
- rhomboclase
- rhomboganoid
- Rhomboganoidei
- rhombogen
- rhombogene
- rhombogenic
- rhombogenous
- rhombohedra
- rhombohedral
- rhombohedral iron ore
- rhombohedral system
- rhombohedric