striking
adjective
strik·ing ˈstrī-kiŋ 
: attracting attention or notice through unusual or conspicuous qualities
a place of striking beauty
strikingly adverb
Synonyms
- arresting
- bodacious
- bold
- brilliant
- catchy
- commanding
- conspicuous
- dramatic
- emphatic
- eye-catching
- flamboyant
- grabby
- kenspeckle [chiefly Scottish]
- marked
- noisy
- noticeable
- prominent
- pronounced
- remarkable
- showy
- splashy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The poverty of the city is striking. There is a striking resemblance between the girls. an actress known for her striking good looks
Recent Examples on the Web Their striking dark green uniforms are accented with a crimson stripe and a large eagle feather in their hats. 
Alexander Smith, NBC News, 11 Sep. 2022 In a striking image, the Queen sat alone in the pews to comply with social distancing practices. Giovana Gelhoren, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2022 In one of the picture’s most striking scenes, the friends dance giddily in a sudden downpour as raindrops glitter like diamonds on their car windshield. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 Wanna has been exhibiting pictures made this way for several years, but the examples at Touchstone are among the most striking. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 On the parlor floor is a striking foyer that has a sparkling chandelier and herringbone oak flooring. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2022 These striking stats aren’t lost are a part of why TikTok launched their #SeeYourselfinCyber initiative, aimed at narrowing the gap between BIPOC groups and access to lucrative jobs in cybersecurity. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 8 Sep. 2022 For Truss, who campaigned on a message of tax cuts and deregulation, the energy bills policy was both a striking ideological reversal and a litmus test for her new government. Mark Landler, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 To help the deep green leaves with red tips on this plant pop, put it in a pot that's just as vibrant and striking. Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, 8 Sep. 2022 See More
Alexander Smith, NBC News, 11 Sep. 2022 In a striking image, the Queen sat alone in the pews to comply with social distancing practices. Giovana Gelhoren, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2022 In one of the picture’s most striking scenes, the friends dance giddily in a sudden downpour as raindrops glitter like diamonds on their car windshield. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 Wanna has been exhibiting pictures made this way for several years, but the examples at Touchstone are among the most striking. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 On the parlor floor is a striking foyer that has a sparkling chandelier and herringbone oak flooring. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2022 These striking stats aren’t lost are a part of why TikTok launched their #SeeYourselfinCyber initiative, aimed at narrowing the gap between BIPOC groups and access to lucrative jobs in cybersecurity. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 8 Sep. 2022 For Truss, who campaigned on a message of tax cuts and deregulation, the energy bills policy was both a striking ideological reversal and a litmus test for her new government. Mark Landler, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 To help the deep green leaves with red tips on this plant pop, put it in a pot that's just as vibrant and striking. Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, 8 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1725, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing striking
Kids Definition
striking
adjective
strik·ing
ˈstrī-kiŋ
: attracting attention : remarkable
a striking resemblance
striking 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in noticeable
likely to attract attention you'd be amazed what a striking difference new wallpaper can make in a room Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- noticeable
- prominent
- remarkable
- dramatic
- commanding
- impressive
- marked
- brilliant
- conspicuous
- arresting
- interesting
- pronounced
- outstanding
- emphatic
- showy
- bold
- eye-catching
- flamboyant
- visible
- distinguished
- notable
- noteworthy
- glaring
- catchy
- highlighted
- loud
- salient
- noisy
- splashy
- recognizable
- discernible
- spectacular
- fascinating
- perceptible
- detectable
- observable
- bodacious
- ornate
- fancy
- kenspeckle
- screaming
- grabby
- extravagant
- eminent
- discernable
- flagrant
- absorbing
- gaudy
- riveting
- flashy
- spotlighted
- garish
- enthralling
- glitzy
- swank
- howling
- engrossing
- tawdry
- opulent
- jazzy
- meretricious
- ostentatious
- swanky
- florid
- glittery
- overwrought
- pretentious
- overdone
- hifalutin
- highfalutin
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subtle
- inconspicuous
- unremarkable
- unobtrusive
- hidden
- faint
- obscure
- concealed
- unshowy
- unemphatic
- subtle
- simple
- unflamboyant
- insignificant
- modest
- shrouded
- unaffected
- dim
- unimportant
- unnoticeable
- undistinguished
- understated
- unassuming
- plain
- quiet
- unpretentious
- subdued
- restrained
- conservative
- muted
- unflashy
- toned-down
2
as in glaring
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad several striking contradictions in her argument Synonyms & Similar Words
- glaring
- obvious
- blatant
- conspicuous
- gross
- pronounced
- patent
- distinct
- outstanding
- egregious
- noticeable
- remarkable
- flagrant
- dramatic
- clear
- notable
- sheer
- arresting
- terrible
- salient
- prominent
- evident
- marked
- emphatic
- showy
- rank
- eye-catching
- shocking
- stark
- visible
- discernible
- plain
- monstrous
- detectable
- outrageous
- perceptible
- observable
- utter
- outright
- downright
- absolute
- splashy
- shameful
- discernable
- deplorable
- awful
- arrant
- heinous
- atrocious
- preposterous
- abominable
- out-and-out
- lousy
- execrable
- wretched
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inconspicuous
- small
- unobtrusive
- slight
- trivial
- imperceptible
- insignificant
- inconsiderable
- trifling
- inconsequential
- hidden
- concealed
- unnoticeable
- invisible
striking
2 of 2verb
1
as in walking
to refuse to work in order to force an employer to meet demands the union is calling for its members to strike until the mining company agrees to meet safety standards Synonyms & Similar Words
- walking
- sitting in
- walking out
- locking out
2
as in affecting
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response we were struck by the willingness of total strangers to go out of their way to help us Synonyms & Similar Words
- affecting
- impressing
- influencing
- touching
- impacting
- interesting
- inspiring
- reaching
- swaying
- dazzling
- fascinating
- disturbing
- involving
- moving
- ravishing
- bothering
- attracting
- troubling
- penetrating
- entrancing
- concerning
- getting to
- enchanting
- enthralling
- disquieting
- stirring
- worrying
- engaging
- captivating
- distressing
- alluring
- charming
- upsetting
- telling (on)
- carrying away
- enrapturing
- piercing
- perturbing
- coloring
- transporting
- biasing
- afflicting
- bewitching
- discomforting
- trying
- harassing
- plaguing
- stressing
- smiting
- harrying
- agitating
- biassing
- pestering
- flustering
- straining
- discomposing
- wringing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tiring
- boring
- wearying
- palling
- underwhelming
- jading
3
as in crossing
to enter the mind of it struck her later that no one at the bank had asked for identification Synonyms & Similar Words
- crossing
- remembering
- emerging
- appearing
- arriving
- recalling
- recollecting
- occurring (to)
- dawning (on)
- memorizing
- coming (to)
- reminiscing
- learning
- conning
- materializing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- forgetting
- ignoring
- overlooking
- disregarding
- neglecting
- unlearning
4
as in smashing
to come into usually forceful contact with something the thump of hailstones striking the cars in the parking lot Synonyms & Similar Words
- smashing
- bumping
- colliding
- banging
- slamming
- knocking
- hitting
- crashing
- ramming
- thudding
- impinging
- impacting
- glancing
- swiping
- bashing
- sweeping
- ricocheting
- touching
- bouncing
- scraping
- landing
- rebounding
- pushing
- brushing
- contacting
- ricochetting
- skipping
- grazing
- skimming
- kissing
- caroming
- nudging
- jostling
- clunking
- bulldozing
- muscling
- shaving
- pressing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- missing
- skirting
5
as in hitting
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner the driver of the car behind me applied his brakes too late and struck my car from the rear Synonyms & Similar Words
- hitting
- knocking
- punching
- slapping
- smacking
- slamming
- banging
- whacking
- pounding
- clapping
- clipping
- cracking
- swiping
- hammering
- nailing
- kicking
- thumping
- batting
- tapping
- bashing
- jabbing
- bludgeoning
- socking
- pushing
- poking
- smiting
- thwacking
- clobbering
- stabbing
- licking
- flicking
- slugging
- boxing
- belting
- bobbing
- clocking
- chopping
- shoving
- swatting
- stroking
- tagging
- busting
- rapping
- bonking
- clouting
- bumping
- zapping
- walloping
- bopping
- pasting
- beating
- pummeling
- biffing
- whaling
- slashing
- peppering
- battering
- mauling
- slogging
- lashing
- stamping
- pummelling
- mangling
- roughing
- cuffing
- hanging one on
- scuffing
- whipping
- lambasting
- jostling
- buffeting
- pelting
- bunting
- dumping
- prodding
- pommelling
- lacing
- switching
- butting
- flailing
- kneeing
- felling
- drubbing
- spearing
- thrashing
- sapping
- bunging
- clubbing
- knocking down
- pommeling
- flogging
- sledgehammering
- sucker punching
- decking
- flooring
- creaming
- caning
- leveling
- conking
- cudgelling
- cudgeling
- braining
- bowling (down or over)
- rabbit-punching
- skulling
- levelling
- beaning
- sledging
6
as in dismantling
to take apart the stagehands struck the sets the morning after the play closed Synonyms & Similar Words
- dismantling
- dividing
- disconnecting
- detaching
- dismembering
- separating
- taking down
- knocking down
- dismounting
- disengaging
- disassembling
- breaking down
- disarticulating
- demounting
- disjointing
- disaggregating
- disuniting
- dissevering
- disjoining
- breaking up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- constructing
- building
- combining
- assembling
- erecting
- uniting
- pitching
7
as in attacking
to take sudden, violent action against a rattlesnake strikes its prey with lightning speed Synonyms & Similar Words
- attacking
- assaulting
- storming
- raiding
- charging
- robbing
- surprising
- ambushing
- assailing
- swarming
- rushing
- invading
- flying at
- besetting
- setting at
- trashing
- setting upon
- setting on
- tearing into
- going at
- rounding on
- bushwhacking
- flanking
- sicking
- pitching into
- siccing
- beating up on
- lighting into
- descending (on or upon)
- bombing
- turning (on)
- sacking
- pouncing (on or upon)
- jumping (on)
- mobbing
- going in (on)
- besieging
- ravaging
- mugging
- battering
- bombarding
- waylaying
- enveloping
- blitzing
- surprizing
- plundering
- cannonading
- cannoning
- harrying
- buffeting
- barraging
- looting
- nuking
- ambuscading
- bum-rushing
- pressing
- pillaging
- plastering
- ganging up (on)
- overrunning
- beleaguering
- foraying
- banging away (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- covering
- protecting
- securing
- defending
- shielding
- guarding
8
as in possessing
to cast a spell on the only way that she's going to get a man is if she strikes one Synonyms & Similar Words
- possessing
- charming
- spelling
- enchanting
- bewitching
- tempting
- seducing
- cursing
- captivating
- overlooking
- fascinating
- mesmerizing
- attracting
- enticing
- beguiling
- hexing
- spellbinding
- ensorceling
- luring
- ensorcelling
- voodooing
- jinxing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- blessing
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of striking are conspicuous, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, and salient. While all these words mean "attracting notice or attention," striking applies to something that impresses itself powerfully and deeply upon the observer's mind or vision.
the region's striking poverty
The meanings of conspicuous and striking largely overlap; however, conspicuous applies to something that is obvious and unavoidable to the sight or mind.
conspicuous bureaucratic waste
The synonyms noticeable and striking are sometimes interchangeable, but noticeable applies to something unlikely to escape observation.
a piano recital with no noticeable errors
While the synonyms outstanding and striking are close in meaning, outstanding applies to something that rises above and excels others of the same kind.
honored for her outstanding contributions to science
The words prominent and striking can be used in similar contexts, but prominent applies to something commanding notice by standing out from its surroundings or background.
a doctor who occupies a prominent position in the town
In some situations, the words remarkable and striking are roughly equivalent. However, remarkable applies to something so extraordinary or exceptional as to invite comment.
a film of remarkable intelligence and wit
The words salient and striking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, salient applies to something of significance that merits the attention given it.
the salient points of the speech