purportedly

adverb

Definition of purportedlynext
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 These toads would be boiled down in billycans to produce a sludgy brew, which the hippies purportedly drank. — Kimon De Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026 One card show that apparently took place in Illinois purportedly shows a man and boy stealing a card of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, valued at $15,000. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2026 Their theater attendance purportedly outstripped that of their elders; their tastes in video-game franchises and low-budget horror undeniably carried the day. — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for purportedly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purportedly
  1. allegedly
  2. supposedly
  3. apparently
  4. reportedly
  5. ostensibly
  6. reputedly
  7. evidently
  8. seemingly
Adverb
  • Prosecutors had said that Laster and Rozier, longtime friends, were part of a group called GMB that publicly flaunted its access to guns and that Laster allegedly relied on to intimidate witnesses.
    — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Verizon officials have announced a $25,000 reward program for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people who allegedly cut fiber lines and cut off service to thousands of Southern California customers in recent days.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of allegedly
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 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
  • As the driver continued, Boyd reportedly pulled out a gun from his waistband and fired five rounds at the truck, including one that struck the tow truck.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Iger is a longtime basketball aficionado — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reportedly introduced him to Bay, a former NBA journalist, 30 years ago — but his particular background makes his Lakers ownership a bit strange.
    — Greg Beacham, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of reportedly
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
  • Opposite, the Kotor Cat Museum helps fund the care of the town’s cats, reputedly descended from mousers brought ashore by Venetian sailors.
    — Jonathan Wiggin, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of reputedly
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
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

purported
purportedly
purporting
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All