Hypersalient

Near-synonym: overprominent

In America, the gap between haves and have-nots is enormous, and has been widening for years. What’s less well-known is the growing body of evidence, summarized this month in a Lancet report, suggesting that inequality harms us psychologically and physically, no matter our tax bracket or the size of our house. It makes status hypersalient, weakens social ties, and encourages us to choose prestige over purpose.