Synonyms of ostensibly

ostensibly

adverb

ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē 

as in apparently

to all outward appearances

ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• apparently
• seemingly
• supposedly
• presumably
• evidently
• probably
• ostensively
• likely
• visibly
• perhaps
• obviously
• maybe
• on the surface
• putatively
• clearly
• possibly
• surely
• distinctly
• outwardly
• purportedly
• allegedly
• externally
• credibly
• conceivably
• reportedly
• reputedly
• professedly
• positively
• manifestly
• presumedly
• supposably
• assuredly
• believably
• assumably
• mayhap
• plainly
• self-evidently
• perchance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incredibly
• impossibly
• improbably
• implausibly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ostensibly

Trump’s order also directed the Department of Homeland Security to develop its own list of eligible citizen voters, ostensibly to be compared against the state lists. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

But challengers emerged and weakened its quest for dominance, often with different models ostensibly tailored to be more local. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026

The two right-handers operated on a similar timeline and, ostensibly, with comparable rehab plans. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Switzerland’s top maisons ostensibly shut down for the annual summer holidays, resulting in very few new releases in the eighth month of the year. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026