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 The film, co-directed by Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, ostensibly follows disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in the 34 days before her prison sentence begins. — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 India's election commission, which is overseeing the voter revision, is ostensibly independent. — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026 Ian, my character, is not entirely good, and Henry, the ostensibly villainous character played by Brendan Cowell, is not purely dark either. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026 Brown’s campaign responded with its own ad, in which several people, ostensibly Brown supporters, dismiss the attacks and ask why Republicans are focused on the transgender issue before attacking Husted over high costs of living. — Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 20 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
  • That little girl was apparently perfectly built for fraud, somehow, and found the perfect environment in Silicon Valley, where exaggeration and outright lying were de rigueur.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Just before the second half began, a number of fans were given transgender pride flags, apparently in an effort to obstruct other spectators' view of the banner and XX-XY supporters.
    — Matt Calkins , Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of apparently
Adverb
  • Especially when your polling is no doubt telling you that progressives and anti-capitalists will struggle to trust any billionaire, however seemingly benign.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • For some, the seemingly lax federal regulation and pending litigation around prediction markets raised alarm bells.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of seemingly
Adverb
  • There’s a gleaming hospital and a string of new downtown spots to supplement The Bar, the beloved dive that was supposedly among the inspirations for the Patch Café in the TV series Landman, which is set here.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Even the ads that are supposedly okay for kids can be overstimulating and aggressive, so try to be vigilant on those, too.
    — Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of supposedly
Adverb
  • The fear of effeminization has never felt so acute, which presumably is why Matt Damon’s Odysseus needed bulging muscles, to ensure his sensitivity was mitigated by pecs of steel.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Levering pointed out users on social media presumably used the technology to transpose Uecker’s voice over the game-clinching call from Game 4 of the NLCS last Thursday.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of presumably
Adverb
  • And that, evidently, made all the difference for him in the bedroom.
    — Bob Brody, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
  • And once Popovic was on the floor, Auriemma evidently did not want to sit her down.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of evidently
Adverb
  • So the theoretical maximum is 256 ESSMs rather than 64 missiles, although a practical loadout would probably mix missile types.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The overall answer probably won't surprise you, but the nitty-gritty details might.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of probably

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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 26 Oct. 2026.

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