as in apparent
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed
the putative reason for her dismissal was poor job performance
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Recent Examples of putative
During the Cold War’s first decades, the CIA’s version of these men on the spot produced a succession of seemingly stunning covert victories that created a pantheon of putative American heroes.
—
Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
War warnings, policy reversals, the hunt for AI victims, more than one putative $1 trillion private company looming over the public markets – there's plenty going on.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026
For those wearing the putative target on their back, this can surely be agonizing.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
The criteria for these distinctions—between putative immigrant and indelible alien—are not complicated; for above all, The Homeland is a racist project.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for putative
Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
War warnings, policy reversals, the hunt for AI victims, more than one putative $1 trillion private company looming over the public markets – there's plenty going on.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026
For those wearing the putative target on their back, this can surely be agonizing.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
The criteria for these distinctions—between putative immigrant and indelible alien—are not complicated; for above all, The Homeland is a racist project.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for putative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putative
Adjective
-
The Georgia city’s northwest Buckhead neighborhood has been overrun in the last couple of weeks by empty, driverless ride-share vehicles due to an apparent routing behavior issue.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Their apparent approach will culminate in a spectacular conjunction on June 9, when the two brightest planets in the night sky appear exceptionally close together after sunset.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
The presumed reasoning behind why the film was ignored is multilayered.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In total, eight cases are confirmed, two are probable and one is inconclusive.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
-
On Monday night before the matchup against Atlanta, Fudd appeared on the Wings’ injury report listed as probable with a right knee injury, but she was downgraded to out an hour before Tuesday’s game.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Closing arguments are on Thursday, and a decision from an advisory jury and the judge overseeing the case, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, are possible next week.—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
12 May 2026
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
The attack comes despite an ostensible ceasefire that has been in place since October.—
Eugenia Yosef,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
-
Of course, none of this would be possible if the DOJ and Blanche happened to remember the department’s own function as the ostensible guardian of the rule of law.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
-
Ines is a little dazzled by the older girl’s seeming worldliness and Hanna shows big-sisterly fondness for Ines, making her, along with her diary, the repository of her secrets.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The old gunslinger makes the most of an AFC without an obvious favorite and rides off after one last trip into the playoffs, this one coming with a postseason win.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Neural activation and event consolidation seem too bureaucratic, even obvious.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Putative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putative. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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