PATENT Synonyms: 204 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'patent' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of patent are apparent , clear , distinct , evident , manifest , obvious , and plain . While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it. // patent defects

Q: How are the words 'apparent' and 'evident' related as synonyms of 'patent'?

Apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference. // for no apparent reason

Q: When would 'clear' be a good substitute for 'patent'?

In some situations, the words clear and patent are roughly equivalent. However, clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern. // a clear explanation

Q: When can 'distinct' be used instead of 'patent'?

The words distinct and patent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required. // a distinct refusal

Q: Where would 'evident' be a reasonable alternative to 'patent'?

The synonyms evident and patent are sometimes interchangeable, but evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion. // an evident fondness for sweets

Q: When is it sensible to use 'manifest' instead of 'patent'?

The words manifest and patent can be used in similar contexts, but manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required. // manifest hostility

Q: When could 'obvious' be used to replace 'patent'?

The meanings of obvious and patent largely overlap; however, obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer. // the obvious solution

Q: When might 'plain' be a better fit than 'patent'?

While the synonyms plain and patent are close in meaning, plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration. // her feelings about him are plain

patent 1 of 2

noun

Definition of patent

as in copyright

Related Words

Relevance

as in grant

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

patent

2 of 2

adjective

ˈpa-tᵊnt

as in obvious

not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation unfortunately, the patent stupidity of the proposal did not deter the city council from putting it up for a vote

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in blatant

very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad a patent error that should have been caught before the book was published

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective patent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of patent are apparent, clear, distinct, evident, manifest, obvious, and plain. While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

How are the words apparent and evident related as synonyms of patent?

Apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

When would clear be a good substitute for patent?

In some situations, the words clear and patent are roughly equivalent. However, clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

When can distinct be used instead of patent?

The words distinct and patent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

Where would evident be a reasonable alternative to patent?

The synonyms evident and patent are sometimes interchangeable, but evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

When is it sensible to use manifest instead of patent?

The words manifest and patent can be used in similar contexts, but manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

When could obvious be used to replace patent?

The meanings of obvious and patent largely overlap; however, obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

When might plain be a better fit than patent?

While the synonyms plain and patent are close in meaning, 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 patent

Noun

The third patent addresses measurements taken from 2D patterns corresponding to simulated 3D clothing. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026 One of the acquisitions is a patent portfolio and hiring key talent from Overair, a spin-off of Karem Aircraft and backed by South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, which shut down its Overair factories in Santa Ana last year. — Pat Maio, Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The caveat that Edison filed in 1890 was the latest in a long line of pre-patent applications. — Nat Segnit, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022 Tech companies file patent infringement lawsuits all the time — BlackBerry just sued Facebook for patent infringement last week. — Kurt Wagner, Recode, 17 Mar. 2018 See All Example Sentences for patent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patent

Noun

After Milsap’s recording was released, publisher Al Gallico allegedly sued Collins for a copyright violation.

— Tom Roland, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026
Eleven million sales in America, countless radio spins and nearly a billion Spotify streams, and the copyright is Parton’s alone, bringing in millions of dollars on its own as a sizable piece of the icon’s expansive business empire.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of copyright

Noun

His government has implemented policies that slow energy permitting and development, canceled billions in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects and spent nearly $4 billion to buy back leases to stop offshore wind projects.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Companies already offer access to equity grants, restricted stock units, profit-sharing, and stock options.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of grant

Adjective

Some critics have argued that the watermark will prove largely ineffective for flagging anything short of blatant chatbot use.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
Compounding this economic instability is blatant domestic corruption defined by self-enrichment.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of blatant

Noun

The distinctly Finnish Marimekko In Finland, bold graphics have become the trademark of Marimekko, the company whose fabrics, housewares and fashions have been adding vibrant colors and design to the world for 75 years.

— David Morgan, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Film buffs see this process as akin to an anointing; the trademark C, tucked into the upper-left corner of a plastic clamshell, signals a movie’s importance.

— Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of trademark

Noun

Firms carrying an unresolved order should expect the charter conversation to begin with remediation evidence rather than a business plan.

— AJ Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Hutton said her charter authority board didn’t feel Bowman’s previous school board fulfilled its fiduciary responsibilities.

— Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of charter

Adjective

This led to a segment on Newsmax in which anchor Carl Higbie deleted one Jelly Roll song from his phone on air, demonstrating the apparent righteous power of tapping a touch-screen button.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Colleges put limits on the right of students and teachers to express points of view that departed from this new apparent consensus.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of apparent

Adjective

There is a lot to like about the Reds, but there are also some glaring holes.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026
San Francisco doesn't have a glaring need at linebacker where Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw are projected as two of the starters and several other players are in the running for a backup spot.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of glaring

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“Patent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patent. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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