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manifest

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verb

manifest

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noun

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
Despite manifest flaws, U.S. political and economic systems retain enormous strength. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 2 May 2025 The first powerful metaphor in the book's title -- Cracks -- is manifest as Miller describes how his mother filled the cracks of the house boards to prevent summer insects from eating them all alive. Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
In those moments, Shou relies on a pronounced physicality to manifest the character’s struggle. Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025 Each charm in the charm clusters were chosen to manifest and spark joy and abundance. Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 5 June 2025
Noun
United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket is expensive, and its existing manifest is long already. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025 Impacts on supply chains and global trade take time manifest and even more time to reverse course. Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for manifest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manifest
Adjective
  • A lot of Isaacman's intellect and thought on these issues was evident in the podcast.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, King’s status as a last-minute guest was evident in her clothes, the journalist's green sweatsuit standing out among the black-tie attire.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Without treatment, the disease eventually kills the corals, and their soft tissue falls off, revealing the white calcium carbonate skeleton below.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2025
  • Diary entries written by Luigi Mangione reveal the now 27-year-old’s detailed thinking before the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year, a new court filing shows.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • Lindbergh, the tall, fresh-faced Midwesterner, embodied a new American archetype: the Lone Eagle.
    David Rooney June 5, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025
  • Whether the character embodied the spirit of the country with startling accuracy or became a self-fulfilling prophecy is impossible to say.
    Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • If Iran retaliates and tensions escalate further, the index could experience additional selling pressure as investors remain risk-averse.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • In stock markets abroad, indexes slumped across Europe and Asia.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • At Mean Mule, a distillery also in the Crossroads, the grant is helping activate a loading dock located off the alley at the back of their building.
    David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
  • The men allegedly crawled out of the hole to a loading dock, scaled an exterior concrete wall of the jail complex and darted across a freeway to freedom.
    Kati Weis, CBS News, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • When asked where Jean lived, Joseph gave an address that police later identified as Roseau’s, an apparent building on Snyder Ave.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 15 June 2025
  • This is bad enough, but what really concerns me is the apparent inability of the president and those advising him to consider the secondary or tertiary consequences of their decisions.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • First displayed in 2023 at the LUMA Foundation in Arles, France, the four hundred and fifty-four images hang on large metal lattices that stand tall beneath the Armory’s lofty ceilings.
    Max Norman, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
  • The make-up of this year’s squad for the Under-21 Euros is slightly different, but the aim is similar: to win, and display why they are highly rated along the way.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • The Senate holds a slim majority, and at least four Senators, including Paul, have publicly expressed concerns over parts of the bill (the others are Ron Johnson, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski).
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The urgency expressed Monday surrounding securing additional border resources comes as Mr. Trump called for the National Guard to enforce order in the L.A. area amid protests over activity by ICE, prompting a clash with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
    Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 9 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Manifest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manifest. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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