Meaning & use
mildly prominent
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
Slightly more noticeable, larger, or more important than what is normal or expected.
Grammar: Used mainly in medical and technical writing to describe a finding that is only a little outside the normal range.
Patterns
- mildly prominent something
- be mildly prominent on a scan
The scan showed a mildly prominent lymph node, but nothing worrying.
Her tonsils looked mildly prominent, so the doctor asked about sore throats.
A mildly prominent bump on the X-ray was noted but needed no treatment.
adjectivenot comparable
A little more well known or visible than most others, but not famous.
Grammar: Used of people, places, or features that stand out only slightly from their surroundings.
Patterns
- a mildly prominent figure
- mildly prominent in something
He was a mildly prominent local businessman, known mostly for sponsoring the town fair.
The hill is mildly prominent in the landscape, easy to miss from the road.
Common combinations
- mildly prominent lymph node
- The report mentioned a mildly prominent lymph node in the neck.
- mildly prominent on a scan
- The area appeared mildly prominent on the scan.
- mildly prominent feature
- It is a mildly prominent feature of the skyline.
- slightly prominent
- The doctor described the swelling as slightly prominent.
Synonyms and how they differ
- slightly enlarged
- Common in medical notes and usually means a small increase in size, whereas 'mildly prominent' can also describe visibility or importance.
- somewhat noticeable
- Fits everyday descriptions of things you can just about see; it does not carry the technical, measured feel of 'mildly prominent'.
- marginally prominent
- Very close in meaning but sounds more statistical or formal.
Opposites
Word family
- prominent adjective
- Easy to see or well known; the base word.
- prominence noun
- The state of being important, well known, or easy to see.
- prominently adverb
- In a way that is easy to notice.
Commonly confused: mildly prominent or ominous?
mildly prominent vs ominous
Sounds a little similar but means 'suggesting something bad will happen'. A mildly prominent finding is usually neutral, not frightening.
Practice
The radiologist wrote that the gland was 'mildly prominent'. What does this mean?
Choose one answer.
'Mildly' softens 'prominent', so the finding is only a little outside normal — not serious. 'Seriously diseased' is far too strong, and 'exactly normal' ignores the word 'prominent'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mildly prominent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.