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
The racing form, ostensibly to inform bettors, looks like a spreadsheet strewn with figures, arcana and formatting designed specifically to be impenetrable.
—
Neil Greenberg, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Actors may now receive more than one nomination in the same category, ostensibly competing against themselves.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026
Kimmel, who was ostensibly hired to host a comedy show, rarely even attempts comedy.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
While the investigation was ostensibly about cost overruns in a Fed renovation project, many observers, including Tillis, considered that pretext.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Neil Greenberg, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Actors may now receive more than one nomination in the same category, ostensibly competing against themselves.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026
Kimmel, who was ostensibly hired to host a comedy show, rarely even attempts comedy.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
While the investigation was ostensibly about cost overruns in a Fed renovation project, many observers, including Tillis, considered that pretext.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensibly
Adverb
-
That, apparently, was a club rule.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Ben Williamson then lined a ball that third baseman Matt Chapman apparently caught just above turf level.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Adverb
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She's joined by her costars Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci (though Meryl Streep is seemingly skipping the event).—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
-
The apparent targeting and firing of immigration court judges nationwide, seemingly over rulings that go against the administration’s deportation priorities, have drawn widespread news coverage in recent days and shined an intense spotlight on the role of the immigration courts.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adverb
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But Musk refused, then appeared to grow threatening enough that the court may allow Brockman to testify on the message as evidence supposedly revealing Musk’s true motives for pursuing the litigation.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
4 May 2026
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The tax, which would target billionaires with a 5% levy on their net worth, is supposedly a means to bring funding back to healthcare, public education, and food assistance programs intended for middle-class and low-income Californians.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adverb
-
This year’s Cannes jury is led by Park Chan-wook and features many friendly faces like Demi Moore (and presumably Pilaf), Ruth Negga, Isaach de Bankolé, Stellan Skarsgård, and Chloé Zhao.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
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Even the hard feelings around Nutting seemed to be easing after the promise of bigger spending, better players and – presumably – a bunch more wins.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Adverb
-
Walter was an accomplished singer and Marian played the piano, but Crenshaw evidently did not inherit a talent for music.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
In a culture fixated by fame, namelessness evidently held an even higher currency.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
3 May 2026
Adverb
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Philadelphia led 90-89 entering the fourth, and Game 2 had become exactly the kind of possession-by-possession fight the Knicks probably hoped to avoid against a wounded opponent.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
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So we’re probably doomed to endless toxic feedback loops unless someone hits upon a brilliant fundamental redesign that manages to change those dynamics.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensibly. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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