as in apparently
to all outward appearances
ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent
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Recent Examples of ostensibly
And what’s especially interesting is, rather than place a big touchscreen front and center, Hyundai’s gone the direction of tinier, modular screens that can ostensibly be added, removed, or rearranged in the owner’s preference.
—
Adam Ismail, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026
But despite the Giants’ bench being stocked entirely with righties — including Jerar Encarnacion, who can ostensibly play the corner outfield in a pinch — Vitello sat on his hands and watched Lee strike out on three pitches.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
The musician further stressed that this was a creative choice, rather than anything related to the countless controversies Ye has embroiled himself in these past few years (and is ostensibly trying to move past).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2026
Many of the biblical references, including the rider of the pale horse, come from the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, which is ostensibly about the second coming of Christ and judgment day.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Adam Ismail, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026
But despite the Giants’ bench being stocked entirely with righties — including Jerar Encarnacion, who can ostensibly play the corner outfield in a pinch — Vitello sat on his hands and watched Lee strike out on three pitches.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
The musician further stressed that this was a creative choice, rather than anything related to the countless controversies Ye has embroiled himself in these past few years (and is ostensibly trying to move past).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2026
Many of the biblical references, including the rider of the pale horse, come from the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, which is ostensibly about the second coming of Christ and judgment day.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensibly
Adverb
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Even at an early age, apparently, the patient had a few small, smooth, normal patches of skin; some had stayed the same size, but others had grown and spread.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The Granville Suite, once military reception rooms, is named after Christine Granville, rumored lover of Ian Fleming and apparently Churchill’s favorite spy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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University City is filled with yellow rezoning signs and cleared land seemingly on every corner.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
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Professionals in Mexico’s arts community had protested the initially vague plans to export the collection of 160 artworks, seemingly for an indefinite period of time, to the Santander bank’s new cultural center, the Faro Santander.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Plenty of developments are alarming right now, even as America is supposedly becoming great again.—
Beverly Gage,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
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The president himself chose not to name a new full-time national security adviser after removing Mike Waltz, who had included a journalist in supposedly secure communications regarding military action.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Javan Buchanan - Fifth-year forward Buchanan had presumably finished his college career the same night that Boise State’s season ended with a disappointing Mountain West Tournament first-round loss to San Jose State.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Apr. 2026
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Altman’s share would presumably be worth more.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Markström, evidently unhappy at Shesterkin pushing Cotter, skated down the ice and asked Shesterkin to fight.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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Zuck evidently can’t grow a beard, but Ezra Klein and Senator Chris Murphy have.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Adams, who did not answer my e-mails—an alpha move, no doubt—would probably have been proud.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The pregnancy storyline this season is probably the most mature one the show’s had so far.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensibly. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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