striking 1 of 2

adjective

ˈstrī-kiŋ How to pronounce striking (audio)
Definition of strikingnext
1
as in noticeable
likely to attract attention you'd be amazed what a striking difference new wallpaper can make in a room

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2
as in obvious
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad several striking contradictions in her argument

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

striking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of strike
1
as in walking
to refuse to work in order to force an employer to meet demands the union is calling for its members to strike until the mining company agrees to meet safety standards

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2
as in affecting
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response we were struck by the willingness of total strangers to go out of their way to help us

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3
as in occurring (to)
to enter the mind of it struck her later that no one at the bank had asked for identification

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4
as in bumping
to come into usually forceful contact with something the thump of hailstones striking the cars in the parking lot

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5
as in hitting
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner the driver of the car behind me applied his brakes too late and struck my car from the rear

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6
as in dismantling
to take apart the stagehands struck the sets the morning after the play closed

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7
as in attacking
to take sudden, violent action against a rattlesnake strikes its prey with lightning speed

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8
as in possessing
to cast a spell on the only way that she's going to get a man is if she strikes one

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective striking differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of striking are conspicuous, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, and salient. While all these words mean "attracting notice or attention," striking applies to something that impresses itself powerfully and deeply upon the observer's mind or vision.

the region's striking poverty

When is conspicuous a more appropriate choice than striking?

The meanings of conspicuous and striking largely overlap; however, conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind.

conspicuous bureaucratic waste

When would noticeable be a good substitute for striking?

The synonyms noticeable and striking are sometimes interchangeable, but noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation.

a piano recital with no noticeable errors

When could outstanding be used to replace striking?

While the synonyms outstanding and striking are close in meaning, outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind.

honored for her outstanding contributions to science

When might prominent be a better fit than striking?

The words prominent and striking can be used in similar contexts, but 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 is it sensible to use remarkable instead of striking?

In some situations, the words remarkable and striking are roughly equivalent. However, remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment.

a film of remarkable intelligence and wit

Where would salient be a reasonable alternative to striking?

The words salient and striking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it.

the salient points of the speech

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 striking
Adjective
Its isolation is striking, a misplaced guardian island. —Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 Manuel also jangles this apparent order with the striking visual trope of disorienting disproportions of scale—figures appearing unexpectedly small or large in the course’s expanses. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Union officials said nurses will vote on whether to ratify the proposal, which delivers the same contract priorities to all the striking nurses at different hospitals. —Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026 Adidas, Ben Sherman Adidas will showcase Team Great Britain’s competitive spirit through striking fonts and graphics — with an unexpected twist. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for striking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for striking
  1. noticeable
  2. obvious
  3. walking
  4. affecting
  5. bumping
  6. hitting
  7. dismantling
  8. attacking
Adjective
  • The gusty and chilly winds will also be noticeable, especially on Thursday.
    — Steven Sosna, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Officials said the smell of gas was noticeable across multiple locations throughout the city.
    — Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of noticeable
Adjective
  • Henry Ford, but for housing If the goal is to bring down building costs, rethinking the basics of the construction process is an obvious place to start.
    — Ben Christopher, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The imminent launch got less obvious cues throughout the show, too.
    — James Manso, Footwear News, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of obvious
Verb
  • There was a woman in a camper on his property who had difficulty walking.
    — Abrielle Kate Maddison, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Eventually, the officers spotted Brown and his girlfriend walking away from the section to the main hallway.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of walking
Verb
  • This will keep geese out of your yard without affecting its aesthetics.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 15 Feb. 2026
  • How much Texans are able to feel how the Comptrollers office is positively affecting their lives, making their lives safer, better, more affordable.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of affecting
Verb
  • This project is focused on bumping the agency’s operations to include 30 ten-car trains per hour, or more than 300 additional railcars total, alongside other improvements such as a new control system, a new railcar storage yard in Hayward and adding more power substations to improve service.
    — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
  • But Highway 61 remains a destination for travelers bumping the long way around the Americana Music Triangle between New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville.
    — Joe Sills, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of bumping
Verb
  • Meanwhile, bitcoin has dropped 50% since hitting a record high above $126,000 in October.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The car collided with the bicyclist before continuing another block and hitting the bakery section of a 99 Ranch Market location in the Westwood neighborhood.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of hitting
Verb
  • And beyond that, Congress has shown virtually no interest in dismantling America’s tangled web of dealer franchise laws.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 5 Feb. 2026
  • In response to the city clearing out the Cedar Avenue occupation, the activist organizations behind the blockades complained on social media about MPD officers dismantling three different roadblocks.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of dismantling
Verb
  • The strategy marks a shift toward attacking cartels’ financial systems as law enforcement pressure mounts on traditional drug routes.
    — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Dan Ndoye is capable of playing in a central attacking role and Morgan Gibbs-White has looked handy playing in a more advanced role.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of attacking

Browse Nearby Words

strikes out
striking
striking a bargain
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Cite this Entry

“Striking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/striking. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on striking

Nglish: Translation of striking for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about striking

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