manifest 1 of 3

adjective

ˈma-nə-ˌfest How to pronounce manifest (audio)
Definition of manifestnext
as in evident
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation despite his manifest lack of leadership skills, the shift supervisor managed to keep his position

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

manifest

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to reveal
to make known (something abstract) through outward signs a frustration that is often manifested by a minor facial tic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to embody
to represent in visible form graduates of the military academies manifest, we hope, the best that this country has to offer

Synonyms & Similar Words

manifest

3 of 3

noun

1
as in index

Related Words
2
as in loading

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective manifest contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manifest are apparent, clear, distinct, evident, obvious, patent, and plain. While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

How do apparent and evident relate to one another, in the sense of manifest?

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

for no apparent reason

When could clear be used to replace manifest?

The words clear and manifest can be used in similar contexts, but clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

In what contexts can distinct take the place of manifest?

The meanings of distinct and manifest largely overlap; however, distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

When might evident be a better fit than manifest?

While in some cases nearly identical to manifest, evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

Where would obvious be a reasonable alternative to manifest?

While the synonyms obvious and manifest 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 can patent be used instead of manifest?

The words patent and manifest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

When is plain a more appropriate choice than manifest?

Although the words plain and manifest 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 manifest
Adjective
The company alleged in the suit that the figure was drawn from manifests signed by its jeweler customers ahead of the tractor-trailer’s departure from San Mateo. —Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025 Those entering with perishable cargo needing inspection will also use the app to notify border agents, as will bus operators who need to submit manifests of who and what is on board their vehicles crossing in and out of the country. —Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
Verb
Michael Kimmelman, The Times’s chief architecture critic and Headway’s editor at large, recently had the chance to see one of these back-to-the-future visions made manifest. —New York Times, 1 May 2025 He will always be remembered for his manifest humility, simplicity of life, and tireless love for the poor. —Daniel Foster, National Review, 15 May 2025
Noun
Instead, practitioners look at root patterns, which may manifest differently in each woman. —Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 16 July 2025 Yet in the past year, as public anger over the high cost of living has kept building, at least some Democratic lawmakers have figured out that the risk of a voter backlash manifesting itself in a Proposition 13-style revolt against extreme energy costs is real. —U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for manifest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manifest
  1. evident
  2. reveal
  3. embody
  4. index
  5. loading
  6. apparent
  7. display
  8. express
Adjective
  • White’s taste for Richardsonian sturdiness was evident in the roughhewn blocks of bluestone forming the ground floor and the twenty-five-foot-wide iron portcullis guarding the arched entrance.
    — Henry Wiencek July 22, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025
  • That blend of tradition and innovation is evident in both the menu and the experience.
    — Chelsea Davis, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Definition of evident
Verb
  • As The Washington Post reported, a study of 500 large companies revealed that last year saw the fewest DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) references in corporate financial statements since 2020.
    — Time, Time, 23 July 2025
  • Our deep dive last week revealed that the BBC was leaning towards showing the series on both linear and iPlayer.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Definition of reveal
Verb
  • Margaret Qualley is used to embodying larger than life characters on screen.
    — Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2025
  • Van Persie’s bright but brief flame at United embodies the tension between short-term success and sustainable long-term performance that is at the heart of all transfer decisions.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Definition of embody
Noun
  • Charlotte weekend forecast Temperatures will reach up to about 95 degrees in Charlotte Saturday, with the heat index reaching into triple digits, the NWS forecast says.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 19 July 2025
  • For the orange enthusiasts, note the lollipop seconds hand, and indices at 12, 3, 6, and 9 have all been given a pop of color.
    — Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 19 July 2025
Definition of index
Noun
  • The PCMark 10 Overall Storage test measures an SSD's speed in performing a variety of routine tasks such as launching Windows, loading games and creative apps, and copying both small and large files.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 16 July 2025
  • Indeed tariffs typically take several months to feed through to inflation data, while the significant front loading of imports implies that few goods may have been subject to tariffs yet.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 15 July 2025
Definition of loading
Adjective
  • In apparent disbelief, Berger simply sank to her knees, her arms outstretched and a huge grin on her face, and watched as her jubilant teammates sprinted towards her to celebrate.
    — Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 20 July 2025
  • Netflix has a new #1 show, Untamed, a series about a federal agent investigating an apparent murder in Yosemite National Park.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Definition of apparent
Verb
  • The artworks and photos are displayed alongside historical items, archival images, video reenactments of the Raid, and multimedia testimonials by descendants of the enslaved people who liberated themselves.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • If a face is displayed to millions of people at once, chances are someone will recognize it.
    — Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Definition of display
Verb
  • John McEnroe, never shy with an opinion, has expressed skepticism about pickleball — yet even his tennis academy on Randall’s Island in New York City has converted five existing tennis courts to 12 indoor pickleball courts.
    — Stefan Boyland, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
  • Though the director has publicly expressed his desire to retire the character — even revealing plans to kill her off in a 2018 interview on Bevy Smith’s SiriusXM show Bevelations — fan support has kept her alive.
    — Emily Blackwood, People.com, 15 July 2025
Definition of express

Browse Nearby Words

manicuring
manifest
manifestation
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Cite this Entry

“Manifest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manifest. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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