The antonyms for "were conspicuous" could include terms such as inconspicuous, invisible, unnoticeable, hidden, or camouflaged. These words refer to something that is not easily visible or stands out. For instance, inconspicuous refers to something that doesn't attract attention, whereas invisible refers to something that cannot be seen altogether. Similarly, unnoticeable indicates something that passes unnoticed or fails to capture attention. Lastly, hidden or camouflaged suggests that something is deliberately concealed or blended into the environment. Therefore, depending on the context, any of these antonyms could replace "were conspicuous" to describe something that goes unnoticed or is not easily noticeable.