“Prominently” is an adverb, and here's an analysis of its synonyms:
Conspicuously
“Conspicuously” is a very close synonym. It means in a way that is easily noticed or attracts attention. For example, “The bright red sign was conspicuously displayed on the wall.” Just like when something is done “prominently”, it stands out and catches people's eyes. The main difference might be that “conspicuously” sometimes emphasizes the contrast or distinctiveness that makes something noticeable, while “prominently” often relates to a position or way of presentation that gives it importance or makes it stand out.
Noticeably
“Noticeably” also indicates that something can be clearly seen or observed. For example, “He had noticeably improved his skills after months of practice.” It implies that the change or the thing in question is evident to others. In comparison to “prominently”, “noticeably” focuses more on the fact that it can be perceived rather than necessarily being in a prominent position or having a special emphasis in a display or arrangement.
Visibly
“Visibly” means in a way that can be seen with the eyes. For example, “She was visibly upset after hearing the bad news.” It highlights the aspect of being observable. Similar to “prominently”, if something is presented “visibly”, it can be seen, but “visibly” doesn't carry the connotation of being in a particularly important or emphasized position like “prominently” often does.
Saliently
“Saliently” relates to being prominent or standing out in a significant way. For example, “The saliently important points were highlighted in the presentation.” It has a similar meaning to “prominently” when we talk about things that are emphasized or made to stand out because of their importance or distinctiveness. However, “saliently” might be used more in formal or academic contexts when discussing key aspects or features.
Markedly
“Markedly” means in a way that is clearly distinguishable or shows a distinct difference. For example, “The new design was markedly different from the old one.” While it can imply that something stands out, it focuses more on the degree of difference or change rather than the position or presentation aspect that “prominently” usually emphasizes.
All these synonyms share the general idea of being noticeable or standing out in some way, but they have their own nuances and are often used in different contexts depending on exactly what aspect of being prominent or noticeable one wants to convey.