PURPORTEDLY Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

purportedly

adverb

Definition of purportedly

as in allegedly

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 purportedly Two ransom notes purportedly sent by those who kidnapped Nancy Guthrie in Arizona earlier this year were released Friday by local authorities hoping to generate new leads in the case. — Tom Winter, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2026 The smart display, which is said to be known internally as J490, has purportedly been in development since 2024 and is expected to arrive between October 2026 and early 2027, according to Gurman’s latest report. — Paul Lamkin, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 An Iranian military video released by state broadcaster IRIB purportedly showed drones launching toward Bahrain and Jordan. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 24 July 2026 Sony Pictures dropped one last trailer for this follow-up to 2021’s No Way Home, which is purportedly intended to launch a fresh trilogy of films with Tom Holland in the title role. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for purportedly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for purportedly

Adverb

On Tuesday, social media feeds were flooded with users shocked after allegedly witnessing celebrity blogger Perez Hilton live-streaming acts of self-harm on TikTok.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Rabbitt said that planning for the deaths took place as far back as June 5, as Steadman and Myers, who lived in the same apartment building, had been allegedly conspiring through texts about their plot.

— Matt Foster, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of allegedly

Adverb

What Andert argues in his video is that LINXS has effectively ransomed LAX to the tune of $880 million — so far — to complete the supposedly less than 3 percent that remains to be built on the project.

— Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
On October 3, 1995, after an eight-month trial that featured allegations of police planting evidence and gloves that Simpson supposedly wore the night of the murders not fitting him, Simpson was acquitted.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of supposedly

Adverb

Spencer Brown said someone on the movie set apparently did that to get a smile or laugh from the actor.

— Joe Marusak August 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 Aug. 2026
Three men in their 70s were slightly injured — two of them were caught in the wind and a third one fell from a stool, apparently blown off by the wind while preparing for the storm, the Okinawa prefecture said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of apparently

Adverb

The Class of ’26 is now in the job market -- reportedly the worst entry-level job market in years.

— Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
That same day, the Houthis launched a flurry of attacks that reportedly killed and wounded dozens near the Yemen-Saudi border – sparking condemnation from Jordanian, Bahraini and Kuwaiti authorities.

— Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of reportedly

Adverb

Here is a woman ostensibly at the top of her game in two fields nevertheless feeling shot down and worn out.

— Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
But about 400 travellers who had come from sub-Saharan Africa planned to remain on the border, ostensibly retaining hopes of making it to Europe.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of ostensibly

Adverb

The fire killed almost every tree in this section of the Redwood Mountain Grove in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, reputedly the world’s largest stand of sequoias.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Their argument, which seems to have partially swayed the judge, cast doubt on the prevailing narrative and instead characterized the shooting as a response to the gang rival reputedly reaching into a tan backpack for a gun.

— Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2026

Definition of reputedly

Adverb

Garciaparra's legacy evidently continues to resonate inside the organization, including with current players.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
There is the whole obstacle of her being in a relationship right now, but other than that, Fritz evidently has a shot.

— Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of evidently

Adverb

The statement came after Roth detailed a sequence in the film to Polygon that features a cartoon that seemingly hypnotizes children, turning them into murderers.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
But their political views have seemingly coalesced less around the economy than around the war in Gaza, which serves as a character test for any politician who asks for their vote.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of seemingly

Browse Nearby Words

purported

purportedly

purporting

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Purportedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purportedly. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of purportedly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

baptism of fire

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes