Vocabulary in context
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Conspicuous
Standing out very noticeably; attracting attention; easy to see.
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Imagine This
Picture a crowded street festival. A performer in a blazing neon-green suit and a towering feathered hat walks by. Despite hundreds of people, every eye is drawn to this person—their outfit is conspicuous, impossible to ignore.
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Sounds Like
kun-SPIK-yoo-uhs
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Looks Like
Contains the root 'spicu' from Latin for 'to look' and the suffix '-ous'; visually resembles other -ous adjectives built from a root meaning 'to look'.
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Remember This
Conspicuous comes from Latin conspicuus meaning easily seen. It is often used to describe something that demands attention, such as a conspicuous display or a conspicuous absence.
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Other Forms
conspicuouslyadverb
conspicuousnessnoun
conspicuitynoun
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Connect With
visible, noticeable, eye-catching, prominent, salient; opposite: inconspicuous, unobtrusive
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Note
Conspicuous does not always carry a positive connotation; it simply means 'easily seen'. Be careful with nuance: 'conspicuous' can imply admiration in some contexts and criticism (as in conspicuous consumption) in others. The adverb is conspicuously and the noun forms are conspicuousness and conspicuity.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- Her red scarf made her conspicuous in the crowd.
- The athlete wore a conspicuous sponsor logo on his jersey, easy to spot from a distance.
Synonyms
obviousnoticeableeye-catchingprominentsalient
Antonyms
inconspicuousunobtrusivehidden
Etymology
From Latin conspicuus, from con- 'together' + spicere 'to look'; the English suffix -ous forms an adjective meaning 'easily seen'.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: CON-SPIC-IOUS -> SPIC (look) inside the word. If something is conspicuous, it has 'look' written all over it; it is easily seen.
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nounHonor or tribute shown publicly or personally; respect paid to someone or something.
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verbTo postpone or suspend a proposal or motion indefinitely, often with no definite resumption date.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Prominent
adjectiveEasily seen or noticed; well-known or important.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
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