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
The putative mechanism is a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service.
—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
In July 2025, a New York district court dismissed trademark and copyright claims in a putative class-action lawsuit filed by voice actors against the AI voiceover company Lovo.
—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
14 May 2026
In the absence of a putative A-list candidate, the crowded field has yielded good, healthy competition.
—
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Johnny is the putative protagonist of Mortal Kombat II, a follow-up to 2021’s Mortal Kombat, which was centered on MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan).
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for putative
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
In July 2025, a New York district court dismissed trademark and copyright claims in a putative class-action lawsuit filed by voice actors against the AI voiceover company Lovo.
—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
14 May 2026
In the absence of a putative A-list candidate, the crowded field has yielded good, healthy competition.
—
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Johnny is the putative protagonist of Mortal Kombat II, a follow-up to 2021’s Mortal Kombat, which was centered on MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan).
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for putative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putative
Adjective
-
Two men were found unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds.
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The potential perils of this were apparent in Delaware, where a Caesar Rodney impersonator was manning the booth (the Caesar Rodney Institute was the sponsor).
Adjective
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The presumed reasoning behind why the film was ignored is multilayered.
Adjective
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Testing delays have also meant that some probable Ebola victims died without being confirmed as having the disease.
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As of May 27, there have been a total of 13 cases of hantavirus -- 11 confirmed and two probable -- and three deaths, of which two have been confirmed, according to the WHO.
Adjective
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Visit Big Bear said the decision to move forward with the event was not made lightly and that organizers were working with the fireworks provider to reduce the loudest booms where possible.
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CosRx’s The 6 Peptide Skin Booster isn’t just about packing in as many peptides as possible—each peptide has a different job, from supporting elasticity and smoothing fine lines to calming skin and boosting radiance.
Adjective
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Second-year center Ariel Hukporti is at it again — and so is his ostensible drinking mate, Jeremy Sochan.
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Indeed, the history of American politics is littered with ostensible golden ages—the Era of Good Feelings, the Roaring Twenties, the postwar ’50s—that can only be deemed such by our total exclusion.
Adjective
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The dispute over Key Lime Air The episode began with a routine-seeming request.
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These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.
Adjective
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Sure enough, all tires were up and there were no obvious punctures or hissing sounds.
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One of the first obvious things was that Larry is the guy who told Lincoln to go see that play.
Cite this Entry
“Putative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putative. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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