inconspicuous
adjective
in·con·spic·u·ous
ˌin-kən-ˈspi-kyə-wəs 
-kyü-əs
: not readily noticeable
inconspicuously
adverb
inconspicuousness
noun
Examples of inconspicuous in a Sentence
She tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible so that no one would see her there.
left an inconspicuous scratch on the wall
Recent Examples on the Web
Gutters and downspouts: To make gutters and downspouts as inconspicuous as possible, paint them to blend in with the adjacent siding or trim.
—
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2024
An inconspicuous handle, for instance, is the only indication that the thin vertical strip at the edge of a painting might be a door.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Otherwise, always test an inconspicuous place first.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
This inconspicuous corner, now the home of the Fort Street Bridge Park, has several stories to tell: of a river, a region, a historic conflict and an ongoing struggle.
—Paul Draus, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024
As healthcare wearables for various medical conditions and situations proliferate, patients inevitably want their wearable tech as inconspicuous and worry-free as possible.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Jan. 2024
The latter also features inconspicuous alcoves with chairs that provide a nice place to perch.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024
Maybe not, but slight, seemingly inconspicuous differences in approach can rack up over time.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 6 Feb. 2024
The entrance was dimly lit and inconspicuous, but the party downstairs was always wild, with swirls of metallic confetti and good music: hip-hop, rap, and throwback R&B.
—Celine Saintclare, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2024
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2024
An inconspicuous handle, for instance, is the only indication that the thin vertical strip at the edge of a painting might be a door.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Otherwise, always test an inconspicuous place first.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
This inconspicuous corner, now the home of the Fort Street Bridge Park, has several stories to tell: of a river, a region, a historic conflict and an ongoing struggle.
—Paul Draus, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024
As healthcare wearables for various medical conditions and situations proliferate, patients inevitably want their wearable tech as inconspicuous and worry-free as possible.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Jan. 2024
The latter also features inconspicuous alcoves with chairs that provide a nice place to perch.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024
Maybe not, but slight, seemingly inconspicuous differences in approach can rack up over time.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 6 Feb. 2024
The entrance was dimly lit and inconspicuous, but the party downstairs was always wild, with swirls of metallic confetti and good music: hip-hop, rap, and throwback R&B.
—Celine Saintclare, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inconspicuous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin inconspicuus, from in- + conspicuus conspicuous
First Known Use
circa 1828, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near inconspicuous
Cite this Entry
“Inconspicuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inconspicuous. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
inconspicuous
adjective
in·con·spic·u·ous
ˌin-kən-ˈspik-yə-wəs
: not easily seen or noticed
inconspicuously
adverb
inconspicuousness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on inconspicuous
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share