Synonyms of on the surface

on the surface

phrase

as in seemingly

to all outward appearances

On the surface they seem to have a fairytale marriage, but those close to them know it isn't so simple.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seemingly
• ostensibly
• supposedly
• apparently
• presumably
• evidently
• maybe
• visibly
• likely
• perhaps
• probably
• putatively
• obviously
• ostensively
• possibly
• outwardly
• externally
• clearly
• allegedly
• distinctly
• surely
• reportedly
• perchance
• credibly
• conceivably
• purportedly
• plainly
• positively
• manifestly
• reputedly
• supposably
• professedly
• presumedly
• believably
• assuredly
• mayhap
• self-evidently
• assumably

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incredibly
• impossibly
• improbably
• implausibly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of on the surface

Matt might be beautiful on the surface again, but the vengeance in his heart and his newfound ability to shapeshift lead him down a tragic path towards becoming one of Gotham’s fiercest villains. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026

Island manzanita and chamise, for example, develop deep root systems that can survive fires on the surface and resprout from the base. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Easiest to make out are the large round craters created by ancient impacts on the surface of Mars. — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026

The next two puzzles seem, on the surface, to have nothing to do with the first two. — Dana MacKenzie, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026