blatant

Definition

Obvious, on show; unashamed; loudly obtrusive or offensive.

Etymology

Coined by Edmund Spenser in 1596 in "blatant beast". Probably a variation of *blatand (Scots blaitand (“bleating”)), present participle of blate, a variation of bleat, equivalent to blate + -ant. See bleat. In addition, it is suggested by Latin blatiō (“speak like a fool, prate”), which is rare, and so the similitude may be just coincidental. Compare typologically Bulgarian вопиющ (vopijušt), Russian вопию́щий (vopijúščij) (akin to вопи́ть (vopítʹ)).

Example Sentences

• "Glory, that blatant word, which haunts some military minds like the bray of the trumpet."
• "London died away in draggled taverns and dreary scrubs, and then was unaccountably born again in blazing high streets and blatant hotels."
• "He tried to think out what those two men had which so strangely attracted her. They both had a vulgar facetiousness which tickled her simple sense of humour, and a certain coarseness of nature; but what took her perhaps was the blatant sexuality which was their most marked characteristic."