as in apparent
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed
the ostensive purpose of his visit was to discuss the terms of his will
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Recent Examples of ostensive
Just like Glaucon, the best this new interlocutor could do is an ostensive definition - provide examples of justice - or possibly present the etymology of the word.
—
Theodore McDarrah, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023
The ostensive unpopularity of violet versus purple nagged at the back of Tager’s mind for much of his life, eventually setting him on a 20-year journey across 193 museums in 42 countries.
—Stephen MacKnik, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2021
The United Arab Emirates has taken advantage of the fight and now dominates the south, squeezing out its ostensive ally, Hadi.
—Washington Post, 12 May 2018
Theodore McDarrah, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023
The ostensive unpopularity of violet versus purple nagged at the back of Tager’s mind for much of his life, eventually setting him on a 20-year journey across 193 museums in 42 countries.
—Stephen MacKnik, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2021
The United Arab Emirates has taken advantage of the fight and now dominates the south, squeezing out its ostensive ally, Hadi.
—Washington Post, 12 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensive
Adjective
-
Jayson Tatum also suffered an apparent calf injury, which is a major concern for a player just under a year removed from an Achilles injury.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
2 May 2026
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Upon arrival, officers discovered a man in his 20s with apparent gunshot wounds.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
The presumed reasoning behind why the film was ignored is multilayered.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The company has raced to buy as much computing power as possible, making $600 billion in spending commitments last year.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Determined to rise to the occasion and work out every possible kink, Daisy sets out to resolve conflicts between the stews and in the galley.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The result was that, unlike novels and plays, movies became more or less synonymous with bowdlerizations so ingrained and so drastic that even most ostensible masterworks of realism come off like Candyland to viewers unindoctrinated by studio standards.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
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The ostensible point of looks-maxxing is to bag hot chicks, but quite clearly the real fun comes from inspiring awe in men.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This seeming craze for doing plays that others have already done in other ways can provide familiarity and a shared vocabulary, a framework for fuller appreciation of the work at hand.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
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Despite some obvious physical scarring and a seeming predilection for contorting her body in creepy ways, Katie seems pretty healthy, or so the Egyptian doctors tell her parents.—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Besides their obvious beauty, wicker baskets are superior for storage (especially laundry), providing excellent ventilation that prevents mold and mildew from damaging your linens.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
-
Driving through this area of the West Bank, east of Ramallah, the expansion is obvious from the main roads.—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Beyond the decrepit hydro plant, the entire dam's spillway is too small to pass a probable maximum flood and upgrades could cost millions.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
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The most probable candidate for the true author is, however, Shakespeare himself.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensive. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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