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
- blatancy noun
- blatantly adverb
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.
What followed was a scrap between two players, including a Seahawks receiver who committed blatant pass interference.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
“This case involves a blatant abuse of public trust — funneling taxpayer dollars intended for students into personal coffers,” Hochman said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
Gittleman called the idea that the agency is still providing meaningful oversight of servicers “a blatant falsehood.”
From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026
But the article telling the Swiss how to vote came across to many as blatant interference in their widely respected system of direct democracy, and has caused real anger.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026
Not because they were true, but because they were such blatant lies.
From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez
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.
