conspicuously

/kənˈspɪkjuəsli/

Say it: kun-SPIK-yoo-us-lee

1. adverb In a way that is easy to see or notice; attracting attention.
The one empty seat at the long table was conspicuously vacant.
2. adverb To a degree that is striking or remarkable.
The new building was conspicuously modern compared to its historic neighbors.
🇪🇸 conspicuamente

📖 Seen in the wild

I wished to bring before the face of the public, a bit more conspicuously than usual, one of the characters of a time recently passed.
collected by @missha

✏️ conspicuously in a sentence

He was conspicuously absent from the team meeting where his project was being discussed.
The celebrity tried to go unnoticed but was conspicuously dressed in a bright pink tracksuit.
The report was conspicuously lacking any data to support its main conclusion.
While everyone else was somber, she was conspicuously cheerful.
The sign was conspicuously displayed right at the entrance, so no one could miss it.
His name was conspicuously omitted from the list of acknowledgements.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

noticeably prominently obviously strikingly markedly patently visibly plainly

noticeably · focuses on the fact that something is easy to perceive or observe.

prominently · implies something stands out in a significant or important way.

obviously · suggests something is clear to the mind and requires no proof.

strikingly · highlights an impressive or dramatic quality that captures attention.

Opposites: inconspicuously, unobtrusively, subtly, discreetly

🌱 Where it comes from

The word traces back to the Latin verb 'conspicere', meaning 'to get a good look at'. This gave rise to 'conspicuus', meaning 'visible' or 'striking'. By adding the adverbial '-ly' ending in English, the word came to describe the action of doing something in a visible, attention-grabbing way.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

conspicuously absentconspicuously silentconspicuously lackingconspicuously displayedconspicuously different

Conspicuously is a versatile word suitable for most contexts, though it appears more in writing than in casual conversation. It often points out something that is either present when it shouldn't be or, very commonly, absent when it should be there. The phrase "conspicuously absent" is a fixed expression used to draw attention to a meaningful non-attendance.

Word family: conspicuous, conspicuousness, inconspicuous, inconspicuously

💬 Quick answers

What does conspicuously mean?

It means in a way that is very easy to see or notice, often because something is different or stands out from its surroundings.

What's the difference between conspicuously and obviously?

"Conspicuously" relates to being visually noticeable, while "obviously" relates to being easy to understand. A bright yellow car is conspicuously parked, while a simple math error is obviously wrong.

Is conspicuously a negative word?

Not inherently. Its connotation depends on the context. Being "conspicuously absent" is often negative, but being "conspicuously talented" is positive.

What does 'conspicuously absent' mean?

It's a common phrase meaning that someone's absence is very noticeable and often implies that their presence was expected or that their absence is significant.

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