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
-
Prince Harry apologized for his apparent support of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2025 World Series.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Watson, in an apparent spur-of-the-moment remark, announced that the project would devote 3 to 5 percent of its budget to the study of bioethics.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The presumed reasoning behind why the film was ignored is multilayered.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
If the court accepts the case, oral arguments could be scheduled for the spring, with a possible decision by June.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Sustained, strong winds are possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite her ostensible apology, Wu’s rhetoric in the days since has appeared largely unchanged.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
3 Nov. 2025
-
That streak continues here, but the real delight of this ostensible side project is Allison Crutchfield’s return to the mic after an extended absence, and the rebirth of a sibling rock band, apparently sans fistfights or cricket bats.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Chicago Bears led by two touchdowns with five minutes left in the game, another seeming disappointment for the Bengals on home turf.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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As a result, Farrell has now become one of our most versatile actors, able to switch genres and types with seeming ease.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The single-minded obsession with Mamdani’s talk of affordability, while convenient for the mayor-elect and a vital part of his appeal, also misses an obvious point.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Could the Cavs tinker just a little more to take advantage of his efficiency and obvious talent, even when everyone else is healthy?—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Sama was limited last week against Arizona State, but he was listed as probable on the player availability report.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Murray is listed as probable for Wednesday night’s game.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ostensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensive. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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