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 Beyond mashups, how should a model like Claude ensure there’s a difference between a direct re-creation of Tetris (ostensibly disallowed by the new prompt) and a mere game in the Tetris genre (ostensibly allowed by the prompt)? — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026 The Chiefs had signed Fields ostensibly to be insurance in case Mahomes wasn’t ready at the start of the season after tearing two knee ligaments in a game in December. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026 The appeal of sports is their ostensibly level playing field; the intrigue is in the gritty texture that reality tends to reveal. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026 Should Adobe really have an exclusive claim to all the features, for example, that Photoshop offers, especially in our capitalist world controlled by what’s ostensibly a free market? — Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 29 Oct. 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
  • Some of the Kosovan players also bowed their heads while the anthem was played, while Israel’s players and coaching staff sang passionately, apparently in defiance of the home fans.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Nov. 2026
  • The apparently strained relationship between Dejounte Murray and the New Orleans Pelicans took another turn Friday.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 2026
Definition of apparently
Adverb
  • Reaves hit a seemingly impossible baseline fadeaway in the first quarter, flinging the ball almost over the backboard.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Nacua, seemingly open all afternoon, was the target on 19 of those attempts.
    — Andrew Gillis, Baltimore Sun, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of seemingly
Adverb
  • In Germany, though, Musk has been a conspicuous ally of the far-right, urging Germans to move on from their guilt over the Nazi past while sounding alarms about the perils that immigrants supposedly present to white Europeans.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2026
  • By welcoming supposedly free technology from China, the United States and its allies have unwittingly invited countless foreign agents to their shores.
    — Tal Feldman, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of supposedly
Adverb
  • Benchley presumably got a much bigger advance as well — King’s $2,500 was barely enough to splurge on a new Pinto.
    — Chris Nashawaty, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The only difference is that Megan wears dark sunglasses, presumably blocking out some of the bright, flashing lights.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of presumably
Adverb
  • For the site of their hard launch, the odd couple chose Perfecting Church, a Black church in Detroit, evidently seeking to exploit the aura of social justice implicit in the Black faith tradition.
    — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Then came the evidently now-obligatory Harrison Butker missed field goal, and a nearly instant Denver touchdown to take the lead.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of evidently
Adverb
  • Carolina probably needs to go 4-1 the rest of the way in the division to have a shot at the playoffs, and that starts Sunday.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 Nov. 2026
  • But two reviews during Saturday’s game probably prompted Missouri fans to shudder or scream.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 15 Nov. 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 15 Nov. 2026.

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