ostensively

adverb

as in seemingly
to all outward appearances he stops by his old office periodically, ostensively just to say "hi"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensively
  1. seemingly
  2. apparently
  3. ostensibly
  4. supposedly
  5. evidently
  6. presumably
Adverb
  • Towns and cities are enacting bans on construction seemingly by the day, including in nearby areas in Washington, out of fears of higher electricity bills, pollution and AI taking their jobs.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Communities are starting to push back against the seemingly ubiquitous camera systems.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of seemingly
Adverb
  • But the company and Forbes apparently had a close relationship.
    — Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Venus does cast a shadow, but the sky must be very dark, transparent and free of any light — apparently.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of apparently
Adverb
  • While that isolated figure may not sound like much, that ostensibly insignificant amount of time adds up to a little over 19 days worth of sleep over the course of a year.
    — Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Critics dismissed the elections, which were held in December and January, as a sham designed to consolidate the military’s grip on power while ostensibly restoring civilian rule.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of ostensibly
Adverb
  • This is a positive start for the new season and a good indication that audiences are still excited for more Ted Lasso, even returning from a multi-year hiatus after the series supposedly ended in 2023.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In the other, the extremes of those preferences become content, then that outrage makes the content travel, and millions of people learn what everyone else supposedly expects from dating.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of supposedly
Adverb
  • But with the Red Sox evidently set on their major-league catching options, Knizner is looking elsewhere.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Arendt, evidently depressed and convinced of life’s meaninglessness, found his teaching electrifying.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of evidently
Adverb
  • Bou Meng’s first wife was arrested with him and disappeared from the prison, and presumably was executed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • What follows is presumably the narrator’s effort to make good on his or her threat.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of presumably
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.

Browse Nearby Words

ostensive
ostensively
ostentation
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Cite this Entry

“Ostensively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensively. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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