as in apparent
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed
the putative reason for her dismissal was poor job performance
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Recent Examples of putative
Biden’s putative building boom was in reality a building bust.
—
Jason Furman, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
That same rationale dictates that putative but unidentified past crimes may not be pardoned.
—Robert A. Levy, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
In Southeast Asia, researchers have suggested some dental remains and putative tools associated with H. erectus, but there’s limited physical evidence documenting their presence.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025
Then the exhibit barrels forward into our putative downfall, as machine learning starts to replace acting and writing (seen in an unnerving Hollywood conversation in 2031), and then sets its sights on eradicating us messy flesh beings altogether.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for putative
Jason Furman, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
That same rationale dictates that putative but unidentified past crimes may not be pardoned.
—Robert A. Levy, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
In Southeast Asia, researchers have suggested some dental remains and putative tools associated with H. erectus, but there’s limited physical evidence documenting their presence.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025
Then the exhibit barrels forward into our putative downfall, as machine learning starts to replace acting and writing (seen in an unnerving Hollywood conversation in 2031), and then sets its sights on eradicating us messy flesh beings altogether.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for putative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putative
Adjective
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To a casual observer, the difference between o1 and o1-pro might not be immediately apparent, yet the performance gap in business tasks can be substantial.—
Andrew Filev,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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This is most apparent in the different choices of former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The presence of at least six US B-2 stealth bombers in the Indian Ocean and a second aircraft carrier in the Middle East only fueled speculation in Israel that a strike was not only possible, but increasingly probable.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
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In Europe, projections showed a probable increase in Ambrosia—or ragweed pollen—also linked to rising temperatures.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Season Three’s ostensible biggest lover of mess, Jason Isaacs, has only continued to fuel the speculation with his characteristically vague-yet-juicy comments about all the off-camera drama that occurred during production.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
14 Apr. 2025
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Then the professor’s name and picture, along with a new inventory of ostensible offenses, popped up on one of those lists of supposedly antisemitic faculty members.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 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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Entertainment Fans of the show on social media seem to be missing a lot of crucial character development, and there’s an obvious explanation why.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
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In its wildest moments, Coogler’s film seems like a collision of Lovecraft Country with True Blood, though more obvious comparisons will likely be drawn to From Dusk Till Dawn.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Putative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putative. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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