Conspicuous
mediumNeutral tonekun-SPIK-yoo-us
adjective
Definition
Standing out so as to be clearly visible; attracting notice
Memory hook
CON-SPIC-uous: You can SPEC (see) it clearly -- it's conspicuously obvious.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“His absence from the meeting was conspicuous.”
“She wore a conspicuous red dress to the party.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“His absence from the meeting was ______.”
Show answer
conspicuous
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Conspicuous is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "noticeable" or "prominent" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "inconspicuous".
Related GRE Words
salient
most noticeable, prominent, or important
patent
(adjective) Easily recognizable; obvious; blatant
telling
Having a striking or revealing effect; significant
transparent
Easy to perceive or detect; open and frank
overlook
To fail to notice or consider; to ignore deliberately
abate
To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity
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