English Explanatory Dictionary

blatant

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Obvious, on show; unashamed; loudly obtrusive or offensive.
  2. Bellowing; disagreeably clamorous; sounding loudly and harshly.

Pronunciation

/ˈbleɪtənt/ blā'tənt En-us-blatant.ogg

Word forms

blatant more blatant most blatant

Etymology

Coined by Edmund Spenser in 1596 in "blatant beast". Probably a variation of *blatand (Scots blaitand (“bleating”)), present participle of blate, a variation of bleat, equivalent to blate + -ant. See bleat. In addition, it is suggested by Latin blatiō (“speak like a fool, prate”), which is rare, and so the similitude may be just coincidental. Compare typologically Bulgarian вопиющ (vopijušt), Russian вопию́щий (vopijúščij) (akin to вопи́ть (vopítʹ)).

Synonyms

ostentatious bedizened blatant blingish brash campy catchpenny chichi chintzy corny crass crude flashy flaunting florid flossy froufrou garish gauche gaudy gay glaring gross gussied up hideous kitsch kitschy loud meretricious naff obtrusive pizazzy pretentious ritzy raffish schlocky showy snazzy splendiferous tacky tasteless tawdry tinselly too much trinkety unbecoming untasteful vain whorish zesty apparent arrant undoubted bait clear clear as a bell clear as day clear cut conspicuous crystal clear

Antonyms

furtive

Derived words

blatantly blatantness
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