PUTATIVELY Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

putatively

adverb

as in seemingly

to all outward appearances the lake's putatively pristine water is actually crawling with microorganisms that can wreak havoc with your gastrointestinal system

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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 putatively Miller has long been concerned with some of the actions taken after 9/11, putatively in her name, against Muslims in general. — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 The eight-story glass building at the center of the complex, which had putatively been devoted to vaccine manufacturing, was in fact a highly classified defense facility. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026 Such agencies are putatively created to provide expert advice to the president on complex issues such as nuclear technology and consumer product safety. — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 29 June 2026 But with supposedly or putatively race-neutral methods, for 100 years, the right to vote was denied. — CBS News, 4 May 2026 From the perspective of a world of increasingly unimaginable maldistribution of resources, cascading ecological collapse, a genocide cheered on by a putatively liberal order, both are barbarisms. — Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025 Over the next several years, Leo, through the Judicial Crisis Network, continued to back conservative candidates in Wisconsin, where judicial elections are, putatively, nonpartisan. — Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 11 Oct. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for putatively

Adverb

And the hope is that the intensified focus will produce a stronger buy-in from a locker room filled with youngsters who are seemingly starting to gain confidence, and therefore, execute at a higher level.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 Nov. 2026
Harmless stories, dangerous behavior Some datasets explored seemingly ordinary subjects, including beekeeping, professional wrestling, and historical public-health cases.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of seemingly

Adverb

That little girl was apparently perfectly built for fraud, somehow, and found the perfect environment in Silicon Valley, where exaggeration and outright lying were de rigueur.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
Just before the second half began, a number of fans were given transgender pride flags, apparently in an effort to obstruct other spectators' view of the banner and XX-XY supporters.

— Matt Calkins , Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of apparently

Adverb

But the Green Man of legend – a glowing, threatening figure with supernatural powers who supposedly lived in a tunnel – was not.

— Jeffrey Tolbert, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
He was made partner on their American dynamism team, which is a team that invests in startups that do weapons systems and drones and other things supposedly in the national interest.

— Tonya Mosley, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of supposedly

Adverb

For the site of their hard launch, the odd couple chose Perfecting Church, a Black church in Detroit, evidently seeking to exploit the aura of social justice implicit in the Black faith tradition.

— Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026
Then came the evidently now-obligatory Harrison Butker missed field goal, and a nearly instant Denver touchdown to take the lead.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of evidently

Adverb

The initial injury presumably came during the Timberwolves’ win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, as he was seen grabbing at that right knee.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
The California Sound are presumably the Beach Boys touring band minus Love, but that is not confirmed.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of presumably

Adverb

So the theoretical maximum is 256 ESSMs rather than 64 missiles, although a practical loadout would probably mix missile types.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
The overall answer probably won't surprise you, but the nitty-gritty details might.

— Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of probably

Adverb

Unlike other blockbuster drugs, multiple companies introduced versions, which is both creating competition now and will likely lead to much lower prices in the 2030s when generics become available.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2026
And without colder weather, where the temperatures drop and stay below zero, the result will likely be a smaller snowpack.

— Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of likely

Browse Nearby Words

putative

putatively

put away

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“Putatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putatively. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of putatively

adverb

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