evident

adjective

ˈe-və-dənt How to pronounce evident (audio)
Definition of evidentnext
1
as in apparent
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed the evident cause of the accident was icy road conditions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation the man was discovered dead in his apartment, but there were no evident signs of foul play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective evident contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evident are apparent, clear, distinct, manifest, obvious, patent, and plain. While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

How do apparent and evident relate to one another?

Apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

When can clear be used instead of evident?

The meanings of clear and evident largely overlap; however, clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

When would distinct be a good substitute for evident?

The words distinct and evident can be used in similar contexts, but distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

When could manifest be used to replace evident?

In some situations, the words manifest and evident are roughly equivalent. However, manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

In what contexts can obvious take the place of evident?

While the synonyms obvious and evident are close in meaning, obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

When might patent be a better fit than evident?

While in some cases nearly identical to evident, patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

Where would plain be a reasonable alternative to evident?

Although the words plain and evident have much in common, plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration.

her feelings about him are plain

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of evident One ongoing trend evident in the report is the shift from traditional media to digital media, with digital rising to 39.7% share globally, up from 37.3% in 2023 and 28.6% in 2019. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2025 Building a Culture Without a Playbook For Luger, marketing with an entrepreneurial mindset is also evident in how her teams are built and how decisions are made. —Laura Ratliff, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 This is most evident toward the end of the premiere, which aired Sunday, when the Jackson community gathers at the local church to celebrate New Year’s Eve. —Patricia Karounos, Refinery29, 14 Apr. 2025 And despite putting United’s defence under significant pressure throughout the match, the dearth of clinical edge was evident as City failed to make the most of their chances in the final third. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for evident
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evident
  1. apparent
  2. obvious
  3. unmistakable
  4. clear
  5. straightforward
  6. distinct
Adjective
  • To a casual observer, the difference between o1 and o1-pro might not be immediately apparent, yet the performance gap in business tasks can be substantial.
    — Andrew Filev, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • This is most apparent in the different choices of former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of apparent
Adjective
  • In its wildest moments, Coogler’s film seems like a collision of Lovecraft Country with True Blood, though more obvious comparisons will likely be drawn to From Dusk Till Dawn.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Entertainment Fans of the show on social media seem to be missing a lot of crucial character development, and there’s an obvious explanation why.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of obvious
Adjective
  • Immediate Action Required: The urgency is unmistakable.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • His speech contained an unmistakable warning for Bolsonaro.
    — Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of unmistakable
Adjective
  • The email should be approximately 250 words, maintain a confident but not technical tone, emphasize the business benefits rather than technical specifications, and include a clear call to action for scheduling a demo.
    — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Netanyahu’s office made clear in its Thursday statements that its position has not budged.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of clear
Adjective
  • The economic case for implementing those other policies is more straightforward than the case for tariffs.
    — Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Those are the more straightforward solutions, according to Dr. Teitelbaum, but more extreme asymmetry can require performing completely different procedures on each side, usually a custom combination of augmentation, breast lift, breast lift with fat transfer, and/or reduction.
    — Nicola Dall'Asen, Allure, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of straightforward
Adjective
  • The title drop, when a line of dialogue references the film’s title, is a delicate art with a distinct cult following.
    — Donald Liebenson, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The Justice Department is considering a plan to merge the ATF and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), both of which often collaborate but have distinct missions.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of distinct

Browse Nearby Words

evidencing
evident
evidently
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Cite this Entry

“Evident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evident. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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