- present participle of strike.
striking
Americanadjective
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a scene of striking beauty.
- Synonyms:
- outstanding, noteworthy, remarkable
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a striking lack of enthusiasm.
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being on strike, as workers.
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capable of attacking an enemy, especially by air.
striking power.
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within the extent of space through which it is possible to attack a target effectively.
striking distance.
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adjective
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attracting attention; fine; impressive
a striking beauty
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conspicuous; noticeable
a striking difference
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of striking
Explanation
Something striking grabs your attention because it’s vivid and surprising. Many twins have a striking resemblance. People in red satin evening gowns, the pyramids in Egypt, and platform heels with fish in them are also striking. Anything striking is hard not to notice; it almost hits, or strikes, you with surprise, like a toddler in a tuxedo. People can be striking, and so can landscapes — one of the most striking sights in the world is the Grand Canyon, which is why so many people visit just to look at it. Non-visual things can be striking too, like a striking thought that makes you shout, “Eureka!”
Vocabulary lists containing striking
NAEP Test Words
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Pay Attention! Synonyms for "Interesting"
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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.
With decades-long careers in public office, both Jackson and Collins are striking a balance between defending their records and acknowledging that voters think the status quo is broken.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026
In the four division series games against the Atlanta Braves, he had a single in 16 at-bats, striking out seven times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
In a sport full of elaborate buzz cuts and eye-searing bleach jobs, Erling’s striking blond mane, pulled into a tight bun, became one of the enduring images of the tournament.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
Videos of rats scuttling through corridors in other lycées soon hit social media, providing striking symbols of the discontent.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Bell chattered on, but Powell kept pounding up the stairs slowly, his boots striking the steps with dull thuds that echoed to the floors above.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
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.
