salient

/ˈseɪliɪnt/

/ˈseɪliɛnt/

Other forms: salients; saliently

If something stands out in a very obvious way, it can be called salient. It's time to find new friends if the differences between you and your current friends are becoming more and more salient.

Salient, from the Latin verb salire, "to leap," was originally used in English to refer to leaping animals such as a frog or deer and may still be used this way. Often, however, it is used in math or geography to mean protruding. A salient angle juts outward rather than inward. Figuratively, it means noticeable or prominent. When giving an argument, make your most salient points at the beginning or the end.

Definitions of salient

1. adjective

   having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
   “salient traits”

   synonyms: outstanding, prominent, spectacular, striking

   conspicuous

   obvious to the eye or mind
2. adjective

   (of angles) pointing outward at an angle of less than 180 degrees
   antonyms:

   re-entrant

   (of angles) pointing inward
3. adjective

   represented as leaping (rampant but leaning forward)
   synonyms:

   inclined

   at an angle to the horizontal or vertical position
4. noun

   (military) the part of the line of battle that projects closest to the enemy
   type of:

   projection

   any solid convex shape that juts out from something