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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Recent Examples of ostensible
Surely there’s a tube of glue somewhere in this massive house, but this is about the outing, not its ostensible purpose.
—
Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Ti is the next step up in the family and starts at an ostensible $749.
—PCMAG, 4 Mar. 2025
All of the losses that come with slashing NOAA’s staffing and budget will do precious little to achieve the ostensible goal of the White House and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Just last week, Axios reported on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s plan to use artificial intelligence to comb the social media accounts of student visa holders in a search for ostensible terrorist sympathies.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensible
Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Ti is the next step up in the family and starts at an ostensible $749.
—PCMAG, 4 Mar. 2025
All of the losses that come with slashing NOAA’s staffing and budget will do precious little to achieve the ostensible goal of the White House and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Just last week, Axios reported on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s plan to use artificial intelligence to comb the social media accounts of student visa holders in a search for ostensible terrorist sympathies.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensible
Adjective
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As a result, the union met with Carr on Monday in apparent hopes that Carr, who has promised tight scrutiny of the merger, uses his muscle to achieve measures that protect workers.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2025
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Witkoff’s apparent favorability toward negotiations was cited by regional sources speaking to an Israeli newspaper as one reason Khamenei softened up and wrote back to Trump.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Citing the sheriff's office, WESH reported that deputies initially responded to a report of a possible shooting at the couple's home in Orlo Vista, just west of Orlando, at around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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Russian troops often carve that backs off their assault cars’ cabs in order to facilitate a quick exit, so there was nothing but a possible thin screen to stop an FPV that barreled toward the anti-tank mine resting in the back of one idling Lada.—
David Axe,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The crony character of protectionism becomes obvious when examining the labyrinthine incoherence of U.S. trade policy.—
David B. McGarry,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2025
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Find the right dog kennel site This may seem obvious, but good site selection can mean the difference between a single workday and an entire holiday weekend.—
Patrick Brady,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Emilia Pérez’s turnout in particular was a fall from seeming dominance, perhaps precipitated by Gascón’s controversy.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2025
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That night of violence — with its brutality and seeming lack of a motive — has shaken the community.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Next week, the Mavericks will strive to fend off a pair of sub-.500 clubs, the 23-51 Brooklyn Nets and the 35-38 Atlanta Hawks, at home in American Airlines Arena before heading to Tinseltown to suit up against another probable lower playoff seed in the West, the 42-31 L.A. Clippers.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2025
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That’s not a good sign for DOGE casualties About 8,000 to 10,000 employees will be affected by the layoffs, with the probable effective date being May 27, said the email, which was sent by Thomas J. Nagy Jr., deputy assistant secretary for human resources at HHS, and viewed by CNN.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In Bangkok, Rick and Frank have just infiltrated the home of Rick’s dad’s supposed murderer, which could easily end in homicide.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2025
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Other issues, pointed out by the defense, were the facts that the Alberts’ home — the supposed scene of the crime — was never searched by police and was then sold in the spring of 2023, The Boston Globe reported.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ostensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensible. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
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