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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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 putative 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 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 See All Example Sentences for putative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for putative

Adjective

Several police officers responded and found the suspect holding an apparent firearm.

— Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 25 July 2026
Elsewhere, manager David Moyes will have been satisfied that right-back Nathan Patterson, who has no apparent future at Everton, got enough minutes in Scotland’s three matches to provide a bargaining lever with any clubs interested in him.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of apparent

Adjective

The Royals have not announced who their probable pitcher on Tuesday night at Minnesota.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
In quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams have the NFL reigning most valuable player — a probable future hall of famer still conducting master classes of his craft.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

Definition of probable

Adjective

High school athletes have four years to put themselves in the best possible position to be noticed by college recruiters, and playing time is hard to come by for most underclassmen.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
Our priority is to help as many team members as possible transition into opportunities within our other Sushi Confidential locations.

— Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 28 July 2026

Definition of possible

Adjective

In the sole panel now summarizing Washington’s participation, nearly every paragraph makes some mention of his ostensible antislavery views.

— John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026
The tea party emerged during Barack Obama’s presidency as a far-right ideological movement with an ostensible focus on fiscal conservatism.

— Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 7 July 2026

Definition of ostensible

Adjective

These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
The princess was spotted wearing a gold nautical charm bracelet on her wrist—a seeming nod to the one famously given to her late grandmother Princess Diana by her then-husband Prince Charles after their wedding on July 29, 1981.

— Lara Walsh, InStyle, 13 July 2026

Definition of seeming

Adjective

In unionized environments with collective agreements, policy and law require a job posting even when the hire is obvious.

— Jason Walker PsyD, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Running was the most obvious trigger, but long walks, certain pilates classes, tight workout clothes, bathing suits, anything that involved movement or compression made the discomfort worse.

— Anonymous, Allure, 23 July 2026

Definition of obvious

Browse Nearby Words

put aside

putative

putatively

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“Putative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putative. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of putative

adjective

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