Conspicuous

adjective · SAT

Meaning: Standing out so as to be clearly visible or attracting notice; obvious.

Examples

  1. The puffin's brightly colored beak makes it conspicuous against the dark cliffs where it nests.
  2. The report was notable for a conspicuous absence: it never mentioned the factory's history of safety violations.

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms:

noticeableprominentobviousstriking

Antonyms:

inconspicuoushiddenunnoticeable

Memory tip

It shares a root with "spectator" (Latin specere, "to look"). Conspicuous things get looked at.

Practice question

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

Some moths are pale and nearly invisible on birch bark, whereas others are ______, with bright colors that warn predators they taste bad.

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