faintly visible

USAGE SUMMARY

"faintly visible" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is barely able to be seen or perceived. Example sentence: The sun was setting behind the mountains, casting a faintly visible pink hue across the sky.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After half a century, the picture given by Preminger's "Advise and Consent" is still faintly visible.

The New Yorker

Although brown and black jaguars appear to be solid-coloured, spots are always faintly visible.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Faintly visible in the right-hand corner are the prompter's hands.

The New York Times - Arts

Some history-minded painter decided to leave the words faintly visible, as a reminder.

The Economist

In time, the finishes and adhesives shrink a bit and the seams become faintly visible.

The New York Times

That seem to carry on the air like faintly visible things.

The New Yorker

The lights were on, the blue glow of the TV faintly visible.

The New Yorker

Spotting a faintly visible matrix that had been drawn to guide the Chinese calligrapher, she orders some quick digital cleanup.

The New York Times

The beads are not painted, and their color comes from the paper itself (with writing sometimes faintly visible).

The New York Times

The "meat" had been built up on the plaster, leaving delicate brush strokes that were faintly visible.

The New York Times - Science

What were formerly the dark shapes of assembling people are becoming faintly visible as they take their plastic seats.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "faintly visible", ensure the context provides an understanding of why it is not more clearly seen, such as distance, lighting, or obstruction.

Common error

Avoid using "faintly visible" when the subject is easily seen. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the visibility is truly limited or marginal to maintain accuracy and avoid misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "faintly visible" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe its degree of visibility. It indicates that something is present and can be seen, but not clearly or easily. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "faintly visible" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something that is difficult to see. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys a limited degree of visibility due to factors like distance, lighting, or obstruction. It appears frequently in News & Media and Science sources, and its neutral register makes it suitable for various writing styles. When using "faintly visible", ensure the context clarifies why the subject is not clearly seen to avoid ambiguity. For alternative expressions, consider barely perceptible, scarcely discernible, or almost imperceptible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely perceptible

Emphasizes the difficulty in noticing something.

scarcely discernible

Highlights that something is hard to distinguish from its background.

almost imperceptible

Stresses how close something is to being completely undetectable.

slightly detectable

Focuses on the ability to identify something, even if just barely.

dimly apparent

Indicates a weak or unclear appearance.

partially observable

Specifies that only parts of something are visible.

indistinctly visible

Suggests that something lacks clear definition when seen.

vaguely noticeable

Implies that something can be noticed, but not with certainty.

weakly visible

Describes the feeble intensity of something that can be seen.

shadowy presence

Conveys a sense of mystery and obscurity in what is seen.

FAQs

How can I use "faintly visible" in a sentence?

Use "faintly visible" to describe something that is hard to see due to poor lighting, distance, or obstruction. For example, "The stars were faintly visible through the clouds."

What can I say instead of "faintly visible"?

You can use alternatives like "barely perceptible", "scarcely discernible", or "almost imperceptible" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "faintly visible" or "slightly visible"?

"Faintly visible" and "slightly visible" are both correct, but they indicate different degrees of visibility. "Faintly visible" suggests something is very difficult to see, while "slightly visible" implies it's a bit easier to perceive.

What's the difference between "faintly visible" and "dimly visible"?

Both phrases suggest reduced visibility, but "dimly visible" typically refers to a lack of light, whereas "faintly visible" can also refer to other factors like distance or obstruction. For example, a light might be "dimly visible", while a distant object might be "faintly visible".