PROMINENT Synonyms: 144 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'prominent' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prominent are conspicuous , noticeable , outstanding , remarkable , salient , and striking . While all these words mean "attracting notice or attention," prominent applies to something commanding notice by standing out from its surroundings or background. // a doctor who occupies a prominent position in the town

Q: When might 'conspicuous' be a better fit than 'prominent'?

The words conspicuous and prominent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind. // conspicuous bureaucratic waste

Q: When can 'noticeable' be used instead of 'prominent'?

The words noticeable and prominent can be used in similar contexts, but noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation. // a piano recital with no noticeable errors

Q: Where would 'outstanding' be a reasonable alternative to 'prominent'?

The meanings of outstanding and prominent largely overlap; however, outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind. // honored for her outstanding contributions to science

Q: In what contexts can 'remarkable' take the place of 'prominent'?

The synonyms remarkable and prominent are sometimes interchangeable, but remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment. // a film of remarkable intelligence and wit

Q: When is it sensible to use 'salient' instead of 'prominent'?

In some situations, the words salient and prominent are roughly equivalent. However, salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it. // the salient points of the speech

Q: When could 'striking' be used to replace 'prominent'?

Although the words striking and prominent have much in common, striking applies to something that impresses itself powerfully and deeply upon the observer's mind or vision. // the region's striking poverty

prominent

adjective

ˈprä-mə-nənt

Definition of prominent

as in noticeable

likely to attract attention an attorney who occupies a prominent position in the town's social hierarchy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in famous

widely known prominent figures in the history of sports

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective prominent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prominent are conspicuous, noticeable, outstanding, remarkable, salient, and striking. While all these words mean "attracting notice or attention," prominent applies to something commanding notice by standing out from its surroundings or background.

a doctor who occupies a prominent position in the town

When might conspicuous be a better fit than prominent?

The words conspicuous and prominent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind.

conspicuous bureaucratic waste

When can noticeable be used instead of prominent?

The words noticeable and prominent can be used in similar contexts, but noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation.

a piano recital with no noticeable errors

Where would outstanding be a reasonable alternative to prominent?

The meanings of outstanding and prominent largely overlap; however, outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind.

honored for her outstanding contributions to science

In what contexts can remarkable take the place of prominent?

The synonyms remarkable and prominent are sometimes interchangeable, but remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment.

a film of remarkable intelligence and wit

When is it sensible to use salient instead of prominent?

In some situations, the words salient and prominent are roughly equivalent. However, salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it.

the salient points of the speech

When could striking be used to replace prominent?

Although the words striking and prominent have much in common, striking applies to something that impresses itself powerfully and deeply upon the observer's mind or vision.

the region's striking poverty

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 prominent Where Addario has spent her career behind the camera, often alone and unseen in places most people try to avoid, Fonda has done her fighting on the world’s most prominent stages. — Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, OpenAI, one of Nvidia's primary clients, is widely considered a prominent representative of the closed-source frontier model approach. — CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 Carlos Lopes, a professor at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and a prominent advocate of the campaign, also celebrated the result. — Jewel Bright, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 Among those sentenced are prominent opposition figures Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, Chaima Issa, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Ghazi Chaouachi, Ayachi Hammami, Khayam Turki and Abdelhamid Jelassi. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prominent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prominent

Adjective

The 277 lb-ft of torque arrives from 2,000 rpm, and the difference is immediately noticeable.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
The result is particularly noticeable in its food scene, where Middle Eastern influences sit comfortably alongside contemporary Scandinavian restaurants.

— David Nikel, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of noticeable

Adjective

Travis This name is perfect for fans of the Super Bowl-winning tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelce (or his famous girlfriend, Taylor Swift).

— Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
New York’s famous once clamored for co-ops, where tenants are shareholders with equity rather than individual owners of their apartments outright.

— Bridget Read, Curbed, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of famous

Adjective

That’s significant because Ross is a descendant of John Ross (also July), the famed leader of the Cherokee Nation in 1835 who vehemently was against the Ridges’ position to leave their homeland.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
The famed Big 5 (elephants, buffalos, leopards, rhinos, and lions) are all easily spotted in these lands, but the diverse habitats provide opportunities for different behavioral sightings, from feeding to bathing and mating.

— Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of famed

Adjective

Though the Roman telescope is often compared to Hubble, which launched in 1990 and has captured some of the most dramatic and memorable views of the cosmos, Roman’s capabilities far outpace its predecessor’s.

— Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Sabu cast Ethan Juan, known for serious dramatic roles, and pushed him toward comedy.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of dramatic

Adjective

As the world waits for new music from the superstar, who has not delivered an album in a decade, one of the singer’s most celebrated pieces of work reaches a special milestone.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Bardem plays Miguel, a celebrated architect tempted by a morally dubious but hugely lucrative commission to build a secret survivalist bunker for a reclusive tech billionaire, Andrew (Paul Dano).

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of celebrated

Adjective

Yet among those who believe China has taken the lead, 49 percent chose China and a remarkable 38 percent still chose the United States.

— Adam Y. Liu, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026
The breed has become known for its remarkable white coat and friendly expression, though prospective owners should know the dogs are also active working breeds that need exercise, training and substantial grooming.

— Pat Mueller, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of remarkable

Adjective

Greenspan was renowned for his formidable data-crunching capabilities, sharp reading of market psychology, and subtle, often elusive communication style.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
The collection, which translated her mental health battles into a universal visual language, became her largest and most renowned body of work.

— Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of renowned

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“Prominent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prominent. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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