Synonyms for explicit
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Unambiguous — very specific, clear, or detailed
unambiguous, clear, express, unequivocal, overt, direct, definitive, obvious, specific, plain, formal, categorical, precise, definite, positive, open, outspoken, unreserved, downright, manifest, determinate, patent
Other
stated, raunchy, graphic, expressed, denotative, straight-forward
Definitions
- adj. 1
Very specific, clear, or detailed.
I gave explicit instructions for him to stay here, but he followed me, anyway.
Related words
- Word family
- explicitate explicitize explicitly explicitness explicate explication explicator
- Is a kind of
- distinct obvious overt
Choose the right word
Explicit denotes a setting forth in the plainest, language, so that the meaning can not be misunderstood; as, an explicit promise. Express is stronger than explicit: it adds force to clearness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- express Holding hands can express love between two people.
- definitive Let's try to make the definitive list after Christmas.
- unequivocal Their deep love for each other was unequivocal.
- unambiguous I admit this isn't an unambiguous answer.
- expressed Tom expressed his thanks to everybody in the room.
- graphic He is a graphic designer for a video game company.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| explicit | rising | |
| express | steady | |
| definitive | steady | |
| unequivocal | steady | |
| unambiguous | steady | |
| expressed | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- open2
- 5 letters
- clear1, plain1, overt2
- 6 letters
- direct2, stated2, formal2, patent2
- 7 letters
- express2, obvious3, graphic2, precise2, raunchy2
- 8 letters
- specific3, positive3, definite3, manifest3
- 9 letters
- expressed2, outspoken3, downright2
- 10 letters
- definitive4, unreserved, denotative
- 11 letters
- unambiguous5, unequivocal5, categorical5, determinate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (open2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- explicite