close to invisible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to invisible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is nearly undetectable or very difficult to see. Example: "The stealth technology made the aircraft close to invisible to radar detection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Mr. Vazquez's efforts notwithstanding, the American flag was close to invisible along the line of march.

The New York Times

The man at the center of this story is close to invisible.

The New York Times - Magazine

These efforts are generally never seen by the public and can even be close to invisible to colleagues.

The Guardian

With so many competing, the vote could be so splintered that the margin of victory could be close to invisible.

The New York Times

Happy to see Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who's been close to invisible in the first few weeks of the administration.

The New York Times

That is, easy cardigan jackets with molded shoulders, geometric prints so subtle they're close to invisible, full trousers that stop at the ankle and that, when not afflicted with diaper fronts, are neatly proportioned.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

He is as close to being invisible as a man can get in a household of six.

The New Yorker

One possible explanation for what happened, Larmonie said, was that Bernie's raft had moved too close to the invisible and sometimes shifting boundary while she relaxed.

The New York Times - Sports

When the r.f. is positioned close to an invisible excited state resonance the effect of the perturbation will be transferred to the ground state peak via chemical exchange, leading to a decrease in the intensity of the observed ground state resonance.

eLife

Spirits of the Haitian dead — sa nou pa we yo, those we don't see — do not depart as in other religions but remain extremely close to the living, invisible but tangible, inhabiting a parallel universe on the other side of any mirror, beneath the surface of all water, just behind the veil that divides us from our dreams.

The New York Times

While sitting perfectly still in a stable environment the user is close to being perfectly invisible.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to invisible" when describing something that is not entirely invisible but difficult to perceive or detect. It's effective in contexts where subtlety or concealment is key.

Common error

Avoid using "close to invisible" when describing something that is completely hidden or nonexistent. The phrase implies a degree of visibility, however minimal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to invisible" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase, modifying nouns to describe their degree of visibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. It indicates that something is nearly, but not entirely, imperceptible.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close to invisible" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase that describes something as nearly imperceptible. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is frequently employed across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media and scientific writing. While alternatives like "almost undetectable" or "nearly imperceptible" exist, "close to invisible" specifically suggests that something is technically still visible, albeit with great difficulty. When using this phrase, ensure you are describing something that has a minimal degree of visibility rather than something completely hidden. By avoiding misuse and embracing its subtle nuance, you can leverage "close to invisible" to add depth and precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly imperceptible

Focuses on the degree of being difficult to perceive.

almost undetectable

Highlights the difficulty in detecting the presence or existence of something.

virtually unseen

Emphasizes the lack of visual detection.

barely visible

Stresses the minimal visibility of something.

scarcely noticeable

Indicates that something is hard to notice or attract attention.

faintly discernible

Emphasizes the weak or indistinct nature of being perceived.

hardly perceptible

Highlights the low degree of perception.

approaching invisibility

Focuses on the process of becoming invisible or nearly so.

verging on unseen

Emphasizes the state of almost being unseen or unnoticed.

tantamount to unseen

Expresses that it is in effect the same as being unseen.

FAQs

How can I use "close to invisible" in a sentence?

You can use "close to invisible" to describe something that is nearly undetectable or very difficult to see. For example, "The stealth technology made the aircraft "close to invisible" to radar detection."

What are some alternatives to "close to invisible"?

Some alternatives include "nearly imperceptible", "almost undetectable", or "barely visible", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "almost invisible" instead of "close to invisible"?

Yes, "almost invisible" is a perfectly acceptable alternative. Both phrases convey a similar meaning of something being very difficult to see.

What's the difference between "close to invisible" and "invisible"?

"Invisible" means completely unable to be seen, while "close to invisible" implies something is still technically visible but extremely difficult to perceive. The latter suggests a higher degree of visibility than the former.