Synonyms of ostensible

ostensible

adjective

ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-bəl 

as in apparent

appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed

the ostensible reason for the meeting turned out to be a trick to get him to the surprise party

Synonyms & Similar Words

• apparent
• presumed
• possible
• obvious
• seeming
• probable
• supposed
• putative
• evident
• alleged
• ostensive
• reputed
• assumed
• plausible
• prima facie
• superficial
• demonstrable
• distinct
• likely
• visible
• external
• conceivable
• outward
• purported
• imaginary
• supposable
• illusory
• manifest
• illusive
• specious
• deceptive
• delusive
• misleading
• pseudo
• professed
• clear
• feigned
• claimed
• delusory
• phoney
• phony
• plain
• fake
• faked
• so-called
• put-on
• pretended

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hidden
• impossible
• actual
• improbable
• unlikely
• inconceivable
• real
• implausible
• inapparent
• genuine
• valid
• confirmed
• established
• sure
• validated
• substantiated
• corroborated
• authenticated
• verified

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ostensible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ostensible are apparent, illusory, and seeming. While all these words mean "not actually being what appearance indicates," ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.

the ostensible reason for their visit

When is it sensible to use apparent instead of ostensible?

The words apparent and ostensible can be used in similar contexts, but apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.

the apparent cause of the accident

When is illusory a more appropriate choice than ostensible?

Although the words illusory and ostensible have much in common, illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.

an illusory sense of security

When would seeming be a good substitute for ostensible?

The synonyms seeming and ostensible are sometimes interchangeable, but seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.

the seeming simplicity of the story

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ostensible

The wait has been infuriating, stretching the boundaries of trust and raising serious questions about what happened to millions of dollars raised toward the ostensible goal of creating a suitable tribute. —Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2025

Though Benny and his crush, Miles (Rish Shah), make eyes at each other, Benny’s friendship with his ostensible love interest, Carmen (Wally Baram), emerges as the real love story.—Inkoo Kang Off Broadway Jennifer Smith as Stage Manager. —Marina Harss, New Yorker, 13 June 2025

On the flipside to questions about the benefits of AI are questions about its ostensible negatives. —Clemente Theotokis, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

Well before private equity was in the local media game, Gannett was creating firms’ playbooks for them: ruthlessly consolidate, centralize as much as possible, boost shareholder value at all costs— even when the cost was the journalism, the company’s ostensible raison d’être. —Megan Greenwell, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!