as in apparently
to all outward appearances
ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ostensibly
So what about the cave paintings was so moving to an ostensibly nonfigurative painter like Frankenthaler?
—
Carol Armstrong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Other users, ostensibly those who work at the coffee chain, responded that candidates should be prepared to talk about their value of customer service.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
America’s invasion of Iraq was ostensibly about curbing weapons of mass destruction, then became the micromanagement of a civil war that America had helped start.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Zelenskyy says China is helping Russia attack Ukraine Kyiv warned that China may be helping Russia attack Ukrainian energy sites, while France said drone overflights — ostensibly directed by Moscow — were a growing worry, pointing to the increasingly global nature of the conflict.
—semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Carol Armstrong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Other users, ostensibly those who work at the coffee chain, responded that candidates should be prepared to talk about their value of customer service.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
America’s invasion of Iraq was ostensibly about curbing weapons of mass destruction, then became the micromanagement of a civil war that America had helped start.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Zelenskyy says China is helping Russia attack Ukraine Kyiv warned that China may be helping Russia attack Ukrainian energy sites, while France said drone overflights — ostensibly directed by Moscow — were a growing worry, pointing to the increasingly global nature of the conflict.
—semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensibly
Adverb
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Meanwhile, prosecutors earlier this year charged three other San Diego-area CBP officers in a similar but apparently unrelated case.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
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The surgery addressed the impingement, but Ball is still apparently affected enough by it to be sidelined in game action for the better part of the last week.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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As usual, Coon thrives in ambiguity, layering a seemingly straightforward woman with depth.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
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Good briefly put the vehicle in reverse, then shifted into drive and hit the gas, with the wheels seemingly turned to the right instead of directly ahead toward Ross.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The most famous, perhaps, was of lung cancer patient David Prueitt, who swallowed a supposedly lethal dose of medication and awoke three days later.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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But as Robby is (supposedly) on his way out, some fresh faces are navigating their very first day in the fray of the Pitt.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Additionally, the film will finally unite the Avengers with several actors from Fox's X-Men films, which took place in a separate universe that will presumably crash into Disney's MCU.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
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He’s been spotted in the Bay Area, living his life, presumably enjoying the microclimates and the ability to put the pedal to the metal on Tasman Drive.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The ending in del Toro’s Frankenstein is evidently one of bittersweet hope.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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Now, the 30-year-old lefty will hope some other team out there sees him as more of a roster hopeful than the Orioles evidently did.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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That probably stems from the extraordinary effort his players have produced across this block of fixtures.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Newsom’s closure of that highway, where shrapnel actually fell on police vehicles, probably saved both lives and plenty of property damage.—
Thomas Elias,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensibly. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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