PUTATIVE Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

putative

adjective

ˈpyü-tə-tiv

Definition of putative

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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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 putative But the sheer fervor of protest from putative allies stunned Eaddy. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 If that theory still holds, putative 2028 Democratic candidate Rahm Emanuel has an early advantage — in the bike lane. — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2026 Many of our putative Gulf allies may rethink their ally-ship. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 30 May 2026 These putative restorers of greatness evoke a vision of the past that never was and sell it to those who feel a loss of identity in the present. — Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for putative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for putative

Adjective

After revealing its personal agent app Muse earlier this month, the Facebook parent this week unveiled its Muse Charm device in an apparent bid to get ahead of OpenAI and Google.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
The government argues that her apparent ability to finance private security, a residence and extensive monitoring suggests access to significant resources that could also facilitate flight.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of apparent

Adjective

Both encode information in high-dimensional vectors, transform those representations using matrices and tensors and convert internal states into probable outputs.

— Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Across many parts of the city, 100% of properties are projected to face possible or probable subsidence risk in 2030, according to data from the British insurance company Aviva.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of probable

Adjective

As this is not always possible, there can be competition among rainmakers trying to discredit each other, said 30-year-old Kilindon Simiyu, another of the village's rainmakers.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
The sessions are made possible through a partnership between Alpert JFS, the city of Lake Worth Beach, Drug Abuse Foundation, and the Recovery Community HUB of Riviera Beach.

— Courtney Marx, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of possible

Adjective

Last month, a federal judge ordered the Department of Defense to move forward with processing applications for wind farm licenses that had been held up over ostensible national security concerns.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026
In the film’s ostensible present, as the lengthy raid unfolds, a noble, unnamed police constable (Anurag Thakur) objects to his superiors’ methods and their persecution of Devi at large.

— Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of ostensible

Adjective

Adding to that sense of inherent agility and the seeming ability to pounce are the standard 21-inch wheels fit with iron brakes, though carbon-ceramic stoppers are also an option.

— Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
Yet Marcon’s works defy old-world tempos with their pacing (the shots in Monelle, 2017, last no more than a second each), their length (several clock in at under five minutes), and, of course, the seeming ease with which they can be summarized.

— Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of seeming

Adjective

Even when those messages seem obvious or your child already knows them, saying them out loud anyway could help reinforce that their worth was never actually in question.

— Anahi Collado, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
The most obvious cri de coeur would be for the struggling family farm or animal welfare, but Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski, the farm’s co-owners, made a surprising appeal to health science.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of obvious

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put aside

putative

putatively

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“Putative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putative. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of putative

adjective

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