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
The wait has been infuriating, stretching the boundaries of trust and raising serious questions about what happened to millions of dollars raised toward the ostensible goal of creating a suitable tribute.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2025
Though Benny and his crush, Miles (Rish Shah), make eyes at each other, Benny’s friendship with his ostensible love interest, Carmen (Wally Baram), emerges as the real love story.—Inkoo Kang
Off Broadway
Jennifer Smith as Stage Manager.
—Marina Harss, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
On the flipside to questions about the benefits of AI are questions about its ostensible negatives.
—Clemente Theotokis, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Well before private equity was in the local media game, Gannett was creating firms’ playbooks for them: ruthlessly consolidate, centralize as much as possible, boost shareholder value at all costs— even when the cost was the journalism, the company’s ostensible raison d’être.
—Megan Greenwell, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensible
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2025
Though Benny and his crush, Miles (Rish Shah), make eyes at each other, Benny’s friendship with his ostensible love interest, Carmen (Wally Baram), emerges as the real love story.—Inkoo Kang
Off Broadway
Jennifer Smith as Stage Manager.
—Marina Harss, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
On the flipside to questions about the benefits of AI are questions about its ostensible negatives.
—Clemente Theotokis, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Well before private equity was in the local media game, Gannett was creating firms’ playbooks for them: ruthlessly consolidate, centralize as much as possible, boost shareholder value at all costs— even when the cost was the journalism, the company’s ostensible raison d’être.
—Megan Greenwell, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensible
Adjective
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While the vehicle successfully reached the Earth's orbit, an apparent propellant leak caused a loss of altitude.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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However, obstacles, chief among them the Kings’ apparent commitment to patience and prudence, abound.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That would be possible because access from Lincoln Memorial Drive to and from I-794 would be shifted southward.—
Tom Daykin,
jsonline.com,
29 July 2025
-
The overriding theme was that an often dominant team in the regular season rolled into the playoffs and suddenly lost its form and identity at the worst possible time.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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The duty-free treatment of the past is on the verge of being replaced with a 50 percent punitive tariff — a shocking and destructive increase that serves no obvious purpose.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
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Seal obvious gaps around the foundation and under doors, says Bertone.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
28 July 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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Mabrey is probable to return in Connecticut’s first game since the break against the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
23 July 2025
-
Wind gusts of up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail (1 inch) are probable.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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The spinoff picks up after Ziva’s supposed death when Tony left the NCIS team to go raise their daughter.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
24 July 2025
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At the time, Twitter’s ad business was in trouble—and Tesla shareholders worried Musk was too distracted from his supposed main gig, running the automaker.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ostensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensible. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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