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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Former assemblywoman Autumn Burke was also apparently considering a run for lieutenant governor this year.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Reuters reported that the claim about al-Shabab apparently made its way to Trump via several Republican lawmakers.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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But the problem began snowballing only late last month, when Grok seemingly granted a large number of user requests to modify images posted by others.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
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But the problem began snowballing only late last month when Grok seemingly granted a large number of user requests to modify images posted by others.—
Kelvin Chan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Google will supposedly apply the same philosophy to the phone's pricing, keeping it unchanged in the EU.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The extent of the data supposedly accessed at Nike isn’t known.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
23 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Newsom was given two speaking slots, presumably to inform international movers and shakers about California’s golden investment opportunities.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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If the definition of AI is broad, all kinds of potentially non-AI systems will fall into the scope, which is presumably unintended.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Pretti was shot while agents were evidently seeking to detain a man, Jose Huerta-Chuma, whom Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said had an extensive criminal record including domestic assault.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
27 Jan. 2026
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Her appearance at the show was evidently a surprise, according to archival news footage from AP.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Many Cuban Americans were mistreated and would probably like to return.—
Moriah Thomas,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The problem is that person probably doesn't exist.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensibly. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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