ostensibly

adverb

ä-ˈsten(t)-sə-blē How to pronounce ostensibly (audio)
Definition of ostensiblynext
as in apparently
to all outward appearances ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 ostensibly On July 24, the city accused LINXS of eavesdropping on a confidential conversation between a city consultant and a city lawyer, ostensibly regarding the city’s litigation strategy. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 The network operated from the vicinity of Manta, a major port on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, using ostensibly legitimate fishing businesses as cover for an elaborate maritime supply chain. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 Arteta named Bukayo Saka and 16-year-old Max Dowman among his nine substitutes, ostensibly both covering the right-wing position — yet there was no place for Martinelli. — James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 The fracas in the video, of course, is a distraction from the music that’s playing in the background, ostensibly a song from the record, which is notable since the announcement didn’t come with a track list or a single. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensibly
  1. apparently
  2. seemingly
  3. supposedly
  4. presumably
  5. evidently
  6. probably
Adverb
  • Rant Straw apparently took issue with the criticism and responded to Seixeiro directly on social media.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The apparently illusory swings show the difficulty of accurately counting homeless people in the expanse of north Los Angeles County.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of apparently
Adverb
  • And a winning streak that began in the Iowa cornstalks and — seemingly against all odds — continued for nine games, ended with a 9-2 Phillies loss in Seattle.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Shein, which built its empire—seemingly overnight—on $5 tops and $10 dresses that cannily kept pace with rapidly shifting trends, did not respond to a request for comment.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of seemingly
Adverb
  • Yet behind the spectacle, the biggest symbols of their supposedly limitless riches were a facade to make their lives appear better than reality, according to the brothers’ own lawyers.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The company’s Archewell production also maintains offices in Los Angeles, and staff are supposedly still there, trying to develop film and TV shows that Meghan and Harry could attach themselves to as producers.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of supposedly
Adverb
  • Cornerbacks Chau Smith-Wade and Akayleb Evans — both of whom were presumably in a nickel corner battle with Corey Thornton all camp.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Everybody is ordered into the silos immediately — and, presumably, forever.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of presumably
Adverb
  • His predictions mostly involved preaching to the AI evangelist choir, and his fervor for the tech evidently led him to throw caution to the winds of Wall Street.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
  • It was evidently lost amid the flood of congratulatory messages that arrived on campus that day, and Calhoun didn’t remember it.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of evidently
Adverb
  • There are no Cubs players involved in the TikTok series, the Cubs told me, which is unfortunate since Crow-Armstrong has acting in his DNA — his mother and father are both actors — and probably would be at least as good as Damon.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Tom Even non-football fans can probably guess who this one is about.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of probably

Browse Nearby Words

ostensible
ostensibly
ostensive
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Cite this Entry

“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensibly. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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