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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Recent Examples of putatively
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putatively
Adverb
-
Treatments by Biologique Recherche, Dr Burgener, Subtle Energies, and the seemingly definitive Swiss Perfection are all on the menu.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Feminism, the fogged lens through which critics have often viewed her work, is seemingly no more urgent to her than food or fashion—or Star Trek, for that matter, which has inspired several drawings and paintings.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adverb
-
Connecticut’s Brittney Griner (rib injury) returned from a four-game absence but left the game for good late in the first half after she was apparently poked in the eye.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
The officer then punches her multiple times, apparently in the face and upper body.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Adverb
-
They were encouraged to purchase pricey gemstones from him that were supposedly imbued with healing powers.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
The two countries are longstanding security allies, but Trump has criticized Colombia under Petro for supposedly failing to stem the supply of cocaine and has even mused about a possible military intervention similar to that in Venezuela.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
1 June 2026
Adverb
-
The initiative would put an additional $192 annual parcel tax on each property, ostensibly to support essential city services.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
-
Ceasefire in name only Israel’s capture of Beaufort Castle and its aim of expanding its military presence throughout Lebanon come as the two countries are ostensibly locked in a ceasefire agreement.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Adverb
-
In surveillance video obtained by CNN Brasil, Fernandes can be seen being taken out of a car in front of the clinic, evidently unconscious and in a wheelchair.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
The show's plot revolves around tropes that are intentionally comforting and formulaic—fake dating, jock meets girl next door, and opposites attract—and evidently, the styling follows suit.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
27 May 2026
Adverb
-
Hoping to share her knowledge more widely (and, presumably, to find a more efficient way of earning income), Goodman turned to writing.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Kylian Mbappé is working as a cashier at the corner store with what seems to be four Employee of the Month awards behind him on the wall, presumably inspired by his four French Player of the Year awards.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Adverb
-
Sánchez owns the longest scoreless streak in Phillies history — since at least 1893, when the current mound distance was set — and probably even before that.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
This is another issue where rapid technology innovation has probably hurt math instruction.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Adverb
-
Late Friday, however, state officials adopted a new structure for the emissions program, called cap-and-invest, that analysts say will likely reduce wildfire mitigation funding by $200 million per year.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Now he’ll be given a couple more days to heal and likely won’t try again until the Red Sox return home from Cleveland and are back at Fenway Park on Tuesday following Monday’s off day.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Putatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putatively. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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