Inconspicuous: meaning, example and synonyms
Inconspicuousadj. Not attracting attention; not easily noticed.
Example
The moth's mottled wings render it inconspicuous against lichen-covered bark, an adaptation that shields it from foraging birds.
- Part of speech
- adjective
- Synonyms
- unobtrusive, unnoticeable, discreet, low-key
- Antonyms
- conspicuous, obvious, prominent, noticeable
- Memory tip
- in (not) + conspicuous (easily seen): not standing out.
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Check yourself: Inconspicuous in context
The ______ entrance, a plain wooden door tucked between two shops, gave no hint of the elaborate ballroom hidden on the floor above.
Answer: inconspicuous. A plain door that gives no hint draws no attention: inconspicuous. Contentious (disputed), unrivaled (unmatched) and equivocal (ambiguous) don't describe something easy to overlook.
Some species of flatfish are nearly ______ on the seabed, their speckled skin blending so closely with the sand that predators swim past them.
Answer: inconspicuous. Blending with sand so predators miss them means hard to notice: inconspicuous. Obtrusive is the opposite, and contentious (disputed) and immutable (unchanging) don't fit camouflage.