OSTENSIBLE Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'ostensible' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ostensible are apparent , illusory , and seeming . While all these words mean "not actually being what appearance indicates," ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one. // the ostensible reason for their visit

Q: When is it sensible to use 'apparent' instead of 'ostensible'?

The words apparent and ostensible can be used in similar contexts, but apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge. // the apparent cause of the accident

Q: When is 'illusory' a more appropriate choice than 'ostensible'?

Although the words illusory and ostensible have much in common, illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view. // an illusory sense of security

Q: When would 'seeming' be a good substitute for 'ostensible'?

The synonyms seeming and ostensible are sometimes interchangeable, but seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else. // the seeming simplicity of the story

ostensible

adjective

ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-bəl

Definition of ostensible next

as in apparent

appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed the ostensible reason for the meeting turned out to be a trick to get him to the surprise party

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How does the adjective ostensible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ostensible are apparent, illusory, and seeming. While all these words mean "not actually being what appearance indicates," ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.

the ostensible reason for their visit

When is it sensible to use apparent instead of ostensible?

The words apparent and ostensible can be used in similar contexts, but apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.

the apparent cause of the accident

When is illusory a more appropriate choice than ostensible?

Although the words illusory and ostensible have much in common, illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.

an illusory sense of security

When would seeming be a good substitute for ostensible?

The synonyms seeming and ostensible are sometimes interchangeable, but seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.

the seeming simplicity of the story

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 ostensible And studies of the ostensible harm that carrying smartphones does to cognitive abilities have been contradictory and inconclusive. —

Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025 Some industry observers told ABC News that the ostensible softening toward Trump by big-tech corporations reflects a new business landscape that is both heavily influenced by the president-elect and increasingly defined by the development of energy-intensive artificial intelligence products. —

Max Zahn, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2025 Blumberg is a somewhat shy, 34-year-old singer and multi-instrumentalist from London who, for the last two decades, has recorded albums in various bands and as a solo artist, and whose only ostensible throughline is raw emotion and sonic experimentation. —

Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025 The drone is the ostensible replacement for the Mavic 3 Enterprise and features a similar backpack-friendly foldable airframe. —

Jim Fisher, PCMAG, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for ostensible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensible

Adjective

In 1994, the applied mathematician Peter Shor was inspired by a recent oracle result to develop a fast quantum algorithm for factoring large numbers—a task whose apparent difficulty underlies the cryptographic systems that keep our online data secure.

— Ben Brubaker, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2025
An unexpected blockbuster trade in the NBA involving five-time all star Luka Dončić and former NBA Finals champion Anthony Davis has sparked surprised reactions in players across the league — including Dončić's apparent new teammate LeBron James, per reports and plenty of in-game footage.

— Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 2 Feb. 2025