MANIFEST Synonyms: 237 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

manifest 1 of 3

adjective

ˈma-nə-ˌfest

Definition of manifest

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

manifest

2 of 3

verb

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

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

as in index

Related Words

as in loading

Related Words

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

To enter this anniversary uncritically — wrapped in flags and the mythology of manifest destiny — is to be bamboozled. — Otis Moss Iii, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026 In a sport where just one player can change lives and where a market like theirs should offer a manifest destiny, the team delivered, mostly, pain. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 14 June 2026

Verb

But as ProPublica recently reported, problem gambling can manifest in much smaller amounts. — Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2026 Grappling with how the world has molded you, and how that manifests in life, in love, and in your day job, can be an awkward process. — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

Rocket Lab is currently the sole launch provider for Synspective and has 16 more missions for the company on its manifest after Wednesday's mission. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 31 Aug. 2026 The aurora will most likely manifest near the Canadian border, potentially appearing in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for manifest

Recent Examples of Synonyms for manifest

Adjective

The brasserie has Provençal leanings evident in a few of the menu’s flourishes—crisp triangular panisses with a garlicky aioli, a pinky-peach sauce algérienne for dipping your fries.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
And something more substantial, even, than the ongoing oddity of just where Washington Square Park fits into the scheme of things as it’s gone from an evident linchpin of the project to an apparent afterthought.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of evident

Verb

Since taking over as the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts has largely embodied that idea.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
With his rooted presence and remarkable nuance, Nawazuddin embodies Mehboob’s essential contradictions.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of embody

Noun

Giving Americans $1,000 or $5,000 invested in a technology index is a straightforward idea; The source and use of the funds will likely be of great debate.

— Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
The indexes measure what transportation providers charged but do not show how much of the increase appeared in retail prices.

— Cathy Bussewitz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of index

Noun

Protesters blocked the loading and unloading of fresh food and other goods at supermarket distribution warehouses near Naples on Monday, Sky TG24 reported.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
At the loading dock, deliveries arrived in trucks lined up in a queue that had been planned a year in advance.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of loading

Adjective

The Trying star is leading The Death of Sherlock Holmes, which fills the gap between the detective’s apparent death at the Reichenbach Falls in 1891 and his reappearance in The Adventure of the Empty House three years later.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Investigators with the city of Douglas, Georgia have released the identities of the five adults killed in an apparent murder-suicide last week.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of apparent

Verb

Once everything is organized, PocketWise displays upcoming payments on a subscription calendar and sends renewal reminders before charges are due.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026
Blocked from public view for nine years, the mural was finally displayed in 1957.

— David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of display

Verb

Orantes also expressed frustration with the handling of her father’s arrest — to which federal authorities had clearly alerted some media, who were brought along for the raid.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
When Seyfried expressed a sudden impulse to play Holmes again, the next phase of the documentary began to take shape.

— Alex Barasch, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of express

Cite this Entry

Style

“Manifest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manifest. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of manifest

adjective

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes