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
His preferred model instead invokes the putative decay of another mysterious aspect of cosmology, dark matter—thought to be a substance that gravitationally binds galaxies together but otherwise scarcely interacts with the rest of the universe at all.
—
Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2025
But this Administration has swept up putative gang members, some reportedly for nothing more than having a tattoo, and disappeared them to foreign prisons.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
His putative allies are, after all, terrified of harassment and physical violence from the army of released insurrectionists that Trump all but commands himself.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for putative
Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2025
But this Administration has swept up putative gang members, some reportedly for nothing more than having a tattoo, and disappeared them to foreign prisons.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
His putative allies are, after all, terrified of harassment and physical violence from the army of released insurrectionists that Trump all but commands himself.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for putative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putative
Adjective
-
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
-
However, obstacles, chief among them the Kings’ apparent commitment to patience and prudence, abound.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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 Kansas City Fire Department was dispatched around 6:45 p.m. Saturday to Indian Creek, near 103rd Street and State Line Road on reports of a possible drowning.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
Their ostensible mission was to restore order, but Druze militia leaders mobilized, convinced that Sharaa’s real goal was to crush them and assert full control over Sweida.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
18 July 2025
-
In the wake of the building collapse, the novel’s ostensible hero, Anthony Carter, is asked to speak at a rally for his neighbors, all rattled by the sudden catastrophe.—
Kevin Lozano,
New Yorker,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Seal obvious gaps around the foundation and under doors, says Bertone.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
28 July 2025
-
The entrepreneur and podcaster David Sacks has shaped dramatic and high-impact shifts in US policy with presidential support but little obvious meddling, and emerged as one of the most effective figures in the administration.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Putative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putative. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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