inconspicuously

USAGE SUMMARY

"inconspicuously" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is done without being noticed or attracting attention. For example, "He moved inconspicuously through the crowd, unnoticed by anyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As with the Russians arrested last month in America and now deported, that involves moving around inconspicuously, usually under false identities, and handing over and receiving money by undetectable means.

The Economist

Wireless allows many products, from cars to tamagotchi, to incorporate communications as inconspicuously as they already do computer chips.

The Economist

Take the dead-letter drop, where an item can be left inconspicuously and securely for someone else to pick up.

The Economist

When the alley contained graffiti, 69% of the riders littered compared with 33% when the walls were clean.To remove one possible bias that litter encourages more litter the researchers inconspicuously picked up each castaway flyer.

The Economist

Footballers who are paid badly or erratically, as they often are in eastern Europe or the former Soviet Union (see chart), tend to be most susceptible.But match-fixing happens in big and supposedly reputable European leagues, too and because bookies assume the games are clean, you can lay big bets inconspicuously.

The Economist

The Neckar valley is also home to scores of Germany's small and medium-sized companies known as the Mittelstand, a highly successful component of the global economy.Storopack, tucked inconspicuously down a side street in Metzingen, is a world leader in protective packaging.

The Economist

Sociologists, lurking inconspicuously with stopwatches, have discovered the average time museum visitors spend looking at a work of art: it is roughly two seconds.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Much of the skill involves joining wood inconspicuously for the sake of appearance, as opposed to the joining of unseen structural pieces (see joint).

Encyclopedia Britannica

A raja, Jai Singh, wishing to test the boy's perception, sent one of his queens, disguised as a slave, to sit inconspicuously among slave girls at the Guru's feet.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Working inconspicuously, he especially enjoyed catching the leaders' unguarded moments of fatigue, delight, or disgust.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Thanda's lodge complex is set inconspicuously into a hillside in the largely mountainous terrain.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "inconspicuously" to describe actions or placements that are intentionally designed not to draw attention. For example, a security camera might be placed "inconspicuously" to monitor activity without alarming people.

Common error

Avoid using "inconspicuously" to describe something that is simply overlooked or unseen by accident. "Inconspicuously" implies a deliberate effort to avoid notice, not mere chance.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "inconspicuously" is to act as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to describe how an action is performed in a manner that avoids attracting attention. Ludwig AI confirms this adverbial usage, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inconspicuously" is a versatile adverb used to describe actions performed in a way that avoids attracting attention. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and scientific writing. When aiming for discretion in your writing, using "inconspicuously" can effectively convey the intent of remaining unnoticed. Remember to use it when a deliberate effort to avoid notice is intended, and consider synonyms like "unobtrusively" or "discreetly" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without being noticed

Directly states the aim of avoiding detection.

unobtrusively

Focuses on not being prominent or noticeable.

discreetly

Emphasizes maintaining privacy and avoiding causing embarrassment.

stealthily

Highlights acting in a secretive or furtive manner.

secretly

Focuses on actions performed without others' knowledge.

quietly

Emphasizes the lack of noise or disturbance.

subtly

Highlights delicacy or refinement in avoiding attention.

unassumingly

Focuses on avoiding pretension or arrogance.

in an understated manner

Highlights a restrained or subtle approach.

under the radar

Idiomatic expression for avoiding scrutiny or attention.

FAQs

How can I use "inconspicuously" in a sentence?

Use "inconspicuously" to describe an action done in a way that avoids attracting attention. For example, "He tried to slip "inconspicuously" into the back of the room".

What's a synonym for "inconspicuously"?

Some synonyms for "inconspicuously" include "unobtrusively", "discreetly", and "stealthily". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say someone acted "inconspicuously"?

Yes, it's correct. "Inconspicuously" is an adverb that modifies verbs, so saying someone acted "inconspicuously" means they acted in a way that avoided drawing attention.

What's the difference between "inconspicuously" and "secretly"?

"Inconspicuously" means avoiding attention, while "secretly" means keeping something hidden or confidential. You can act "inconspicuously" in public without being secretive, and you can act secretly without necessarily avoiding attention.