as in apparently
to all outward appearances
ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ostensibly
The show’s arc follows an otherworldly battle between good and evil, ostensibly a familiar setup.
—
Emma Stefansky, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2025
In the 2024 draft, the Rams selected Blake Corum in the third round, ostensibly to succeed Williams in a sport that in recent years has viewed most running backs as expendable.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Tariffs are imposed by governments to ostensibly protect domestic industries.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025
These people were mainly born in, ostensibly, the United Kingdom.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ostensibly 
Emma Stefansky, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2025
In the 2024 draft, the Rams selected Blake Corum in the third round, ostensibly to succeed Williams in a sport that in recent years has viewed most running backs as expendable.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Tariffs are imposed by governments to ostensibly protect domestic industries.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025
These people were mainly born in, ostensibly, the United Kingdom.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ostensibly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensibly
Adverb
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Commissioner Eric James cautioned his colleagues against being swayed by the images of other apparently non-conforming driveways.—
Jaime Moore-Carrillo,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Jan. 2025
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Stephanopoulos, though, is apparently sticking with ABC — at least for now — after the network's $15 million settlement involving his comments about President Donald Trump.—
Jay Stahl,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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Anderson was killed in a seemingly unrelated shooting in 1998.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
29 Jan. 2025
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Lil’ Kim’s prayers for Los Angeles rain have seemingly been answered, and fans are showing their gratitude.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
28 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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The national gloom stems from something deeper, specifically the torment of a supposedly cohering national story about opportunity that is encoded in culture, policy, and civic life.—
Adam Chandler,
TIME,
21 Jan. 2025
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Furthermore, the leak of over a billion records from supposedly ‘no-logs’ VPNs emphasize the vulnerabilities associated with inadequate privacy measures.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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The new role suggests that he will be focused on turning major events (presumably including the 2027 Super Bowl, which will be held in Los Angeles) into opportunities for the company to capitalize on, rather than a drag.—
Alex Weprin,
The Hollywood Reporter,
23 Jan. 2025
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Bolton was the target of a murder plot by a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 2022 — presumably out of retribution for Soleimani's death.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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Those four are evidently Flick’s favourites, but Barca have a wealth of other options, not least Frenkie de Jong.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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Editor’s picks The World War II wordplay was evidently a bridge too far for Greenblatt after the ADL had gone to bat for Musk in a statement on the inauguration salute that was widely seen as an abdication of the nonprofit’s exact purpose.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
23 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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After what was probably only mere seconds of bidding, Pringle secured the top bid at $7,000, which is worth about $57,000 today.—
Sara Pezzoni,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Jan. 2025
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But tariffs would probably weigh on retailers like Ms. Bettencourt, who carries 75,000 items in her store, ranging from lawn mowers, chain saws, paint and barbecue sauce, to tropical fish, live reptiles, cookware and baby Carhartt overalls.—
Ana Swanson,
New York Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ostensibly
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensibly. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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