as in apparently
to all outward appearances
ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent
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Recent Examples of ostensibly
Those are magical words to cinema operators, who all ostensibly became Swifties about two years ago.
—
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
While Järnkrok skated on ostensibly the Leafs’ fifth line at their most recent full practice, Berube vaulted him up to the team’s top line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander against the Montreal Canadiens in Saturday’s preseason game.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Rookie Bradgley Rodriguez, who is ostensibly competing for a spot on the wild-card roster, worked a scoreless sixth.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
Everyone is crammed into the dark and ostensibly cool interior.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
While Järnkrok skated on ostensibly the Leafs’ fifth line at their most recent full practice, Berube vaulted him up to the team’s top line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander against the Montreal Canadiens in Saturday’s preseason game.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Rookie Bradgley Rodriguez, who is ostensibly competing for a spot on the wild-card roster, worked a scoreless sixth.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
Everyone is crammed into the dark and ostensibly cool interior.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensibly
Adverb
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But apparently nothing says 'Make America Great Again' like turning Yosemite into one giant toilet.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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Witnesses told police that the shooting occurred after two parties apparently disagreed about exchanging car insurance information following a minor accident.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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There is another narrow corridor extending from the room, seemingly leading to another space.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
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With the basketball gods seemingly siding with Indiana, the Aces needed someone to step up with Young and Wilson the only Vegas players in double figures – up stepped Gray.—
Frank Nunns O'Connell,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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The anachronistic, startling tall ship and black mast, the word Dash clearly visible upon her prow, supposedly took the blasts and disappeared again.—
Leanna Renee Hieber,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
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And a bed in Room 19 is haunted by a bride who supposedly hung herself from the headboard in 1912.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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But current and former employees describe Tan as missing in action, spotted in person only once at an ice cream social, presumably designed to soften the news about a strict return to office policy.—
Lila MacLellan,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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The ensemble swelled to a historic size for Season 50, presumably so that everyone could hang around for a year of celebrations.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
1 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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The personality was evidently deliberately neutered.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
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There is evidently room for improvement based on last season’s output.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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Franklin has probably been too successful — and is presumably too expensive — to fire.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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While the development of McCarthy is important to the Vikings this season, Wentz probably gives Minnesota the best chance to move the ball against a stout Browns defense.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensibly. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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