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ostensibly

adverb

ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē How to pronounce ostensibly (audio)
Definition of ostensiblynext
as in apparently
to all outward appearances ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ostensibly Rubin presses play on a song, ostensibly without warning Carter. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 News of Loy’s demise barely makes it to Lamb, ostensibly because the death is deemed an accident, but Diana’s motives for keeping it under wraps are worth questioning. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026 Even when ostensibly abstract, De Kooning’s work was populated by bobbling fragments of body parts. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026 While the former babysitter hiccup is ostensibly the obstacle for Emma and Charlie’s love story, Emma gets over it pretty quickly, and that speed bump is a little too contrived and minor. — Katie Walsh, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensibly
  1. apparently
  2. seemingly
  3. supposedly
  4. presumably
  5. evidently
  6. probably
Adverb
  • Mid-round, golfers head to the Halfway House for burger dogs and fish tacos, and the Links Margarita has apparently achieved something close to cult status among regulars.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Soyuz rocket failure was apparently caused by a fire at the base of the booster about a minute before liftoff, according to the Encyclopedia Astronautica.
    — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of apparently
Adverb
  • The difference between the two, is that Nikola seemingly has to be motivated to maximize his potential.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • But unlike the seemingly different ideas that Wilson is able to find absurd and poignant connections between in his documentaries, his other project while making the film is one that almost makes too much sense.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of seemingly
Adverb
  • The question this decision supposedly turns on had quietly stopped being the right one.
    — Aditi Khullar, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Not just the supposedly existential risk that AI leaders started recently claiming required a slowdown, but also risks from bad actors like hackers or terrorists wielding AI to attack either country’s infrastructure.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of supposedly
Adverb
  • The other underclassmen Hurley was referring to in the top nine would presumably be sophomore star Braylon Mullins and freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County, who are both expected to make immediate contributions.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Once the shift to the Trop is official, game times and ticket information presumably will follow.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of presumably
Adverb
  • With 53% of US 18-to-29s favorable towards socialism but only 45% favorable towards capitalism, Gen Z evidently feel let down by capitalism.
    — Luba Kassova, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Mahomes finished 15 of 27 for 184 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception that was quite evidently the result of a miscommunication with Xavier Worthy.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of evidently
Adverb
  • These departures would have probably been excused had the show captured the imagination of the audience.
    — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026
  • That means an electrician or pipefitter in Birmingham will probably have more of a buyer’s market than one in Boston.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of probably

Browse Nearby Words

ostensible
ostensibly
ostensive
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Cite this Entry

“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensibly. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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