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
Its putative target is contingency fees, which are typically percentages of the payouts awarded by juries or through negotiations.
—
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
String theory is a putative solution to the problem, replacing particles with minuscule lengths of vibrating string to smooth over snags that doom other candidate theories.
—Matt Von Hippel, Quanta Magazine, 19 Nov. 2025
Each photographic plate took a 50-minute exposure of the sky, leading Villarroel to suggest that these putative objects were stationary in space, possibly in geostationary orbit some 22,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) above Earth.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2025
Ward’s comments underscore that the most incredible and enduring mythology of King Henry’s reign remains that of his putative tyranny.
—Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for putative
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
String theory is a putative solution to the problem, replacing particles with minuscule lengths of vibrating string to smooth over snags that doom other candidate theories.
—Matt Von Hippel, Quanta Magazine, 19 Nov. 2025
Each photographic plate took a 50-minute exposure of the sky, leading Villarroel to suggest that these putative objects were stationary in space, possibly in geostationary orbit some 22,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) above Earth.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2025
Ward’s comments underscore that the most incredible and enduring mythology of King Henry’s reign remains that of his putative tyranny.
—Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for putative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putative
Adjective
-
But the security pitfalls are equally apparent.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
One month later, Epstein died in an apparent suicide while awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The presumed reasoning behind why the film was ignored is multilayered.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The brain takes the probable and turns into possible (binary).—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Usual starting center Neemias Queta was active after being listed as probable with an illness, but head coach Joe Mazzulla rolled with the rookie, whose clutch plays in overtime Friday night helped Boston put away the Nets.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
With just one point out of a possible 10 during this home stand, this team now feels more akin to the one that spun nearly out of control in November and December.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Japan’s Finance Minister said the government will coordinate with the US on currency responses when necessary, as market participants grow increasingly wary of possible coordinated action between Washington and Tokyo.—
Erica Yokoyama,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Tanaka shares the same sentiment, noting the disconnect between city denizens and Redzepi’s ostensible ideology.—
Brock Keeling,
Daily News,
16 Jan. 2026
-
In Mandi, Jaswal found that the most inflammatory political content was often shared in groups that had no ostensible political purpose.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
What much of America doesn’t understand is that with trauma, layers and layers of trauma, can also eventually emerge self-awareness, insight, a free and open reliance on community, and, finally, perhaps a new, however strange-seeming, kind of reverence.—
Ed Bok Lee,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Like the city’s many seeming contradictions, they are meant to coexist.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Heat are muddling along with a roster that isn’t good enough to do anything of significance, have no young player with obvious star upside, can’t create significant cap room for at least two more years and owe a future pick to the Hornets from the disastrous Terry Rozier trade.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
There is no obvious sign any of the officers were injured.—
Jude Joffe-Block,
NPR,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Putative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putative. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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