blatant
Americanadjective
-
brazenly obvious; flagrant.
a blatant error in simple addition; a blatant lie.
- Synonyms:
- obtrusive, undeniable, overt, unmistakable
- Antonyms:
- inconspicuous, hidden, subtle
-
offensively noisy or loud; clamorous.
blatant radios.
-
tastelessly conspicuous.
the blatant colors of the dress.
adjective
-
glaringly conspicuous or obvious
a blatant lie
-
offensively noticeable
blatant disregard for a person's feelings
-
offensively noisy
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of blatant
Coined by Edmund Spenser in 1596; compare Latin blatīre “to babble, prate,” blaterāre “to talk foolishly, babble”
Explanation
Something blatant is very obvious and offensive. Don't get caught in a blatant lie, because you won't be able to weasel your way out of it. Blatant acts are done without trying to hide them. This adjective is probably from Latin blaterare "to chatter, croak" or Latin blatīre "to chatter, gossip." A near synonym is flagrant.
Vocabulary lists containing blatant
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)
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Grade 9, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When he announced the charges last week, Hochman said that while the comments captured by Flores were deplorable, he couldn’t turn a blind eye to a blatant violation of the state’s two-party consent recording statute.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
The Iraqi presidency said it denounced the bombing of the PMF bases, calling it "an unacceptable attack and a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty".
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
VAR, a video replay system implemented to correct blatant errors in soccer, has come under fire for harming the spirit of the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
"The enemy has resorted to the dissemination of blatant disinformation and fake claims by its highest-ranking officials," he said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
Uncertainty filled me more strongly than before and I decided to press ahead with no more blatant risks.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.