as in seemingly
to all outward appearances
the lake's putatively pristine water is actually crawling with microorganisms that can wreak havoc with your gastrointestinal system
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of putatively
Such agencies are putatively created to provide expert advice to the president on complex issues such as nuclear technology and consumer product safety.
—
Laurent Belsie,
Christian Science Monitor,
29 June 2026
In those pages, Fiedler dared to argue that many of America’s boyish and putatively innocent classics are in fact fantasies of interracial, homosexual romance.
—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
But with supposedly or putatively race-neutral methods, for 100 years, the right to vote was denied.
—
CBS News,
4 May 2026
From the perspective of a world of increasingly unimaginable maldistribution of resources, cascading ecological collapse, a genocide cheered on by a putatively liberal order, both are barbarisms.
—
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Laurent Belsie,
Christian Science Monitor,
29 June 2026
In those pages, Fiedler dared to argue that many of America’s boyish and putatively innocent classics are in fact fantasies of interracial, homosexual romance.
—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
But with supposedly or putatively race-neutral methods, for 100 years, the right to vote was denied.
—
CBS News,
4 May 2026
From the perspective of a world of increasingly unimaginable maldistribution of resources, cascading ecological collapse, a genocide cheered on by a putatively liberal order, both are barbarisms.
—
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for putatively
Adverb
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In the final minute of stoppage time to end the first half, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi curved his free kick right in front of the goal, seemingly just one perfect touch away from a goal.
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For now, however, the Fed is poised to wait and see whether the seemingly fragile truce between the United States and Iran holds up, allowing inflation to ease.
Adverb
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Dark clouds hovered around the stadium just before kickoff, threatening to delay the start of the game, but Mother Nature apparently is a soccer fan, because the storm veered away.
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They are affixed to the inky blue background, yet its maker(s), who apparently stitched each luminary on by hand, failed to catch all the edges on many of the stars – leaving another clue.
Adverb
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Still, the tour doesn’t shy away from the mission’s sins over its 250 years, demystifying how supposedly carefree life was during the height of its operations before the United States conquered Mexico.
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These are challenges that supposedly don't hit a flat, non-folding display anywhere near as hard.
Adverb
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He was shuffled off to Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress ostensibly to secure money for the colony’s defense but also to get him out of the way.
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These artisans, with their trade secrets, were kept on Murano, a cluster of islands just across the lagoon from the city, ostensibly as a precaution against fire, though the state would also send assassins after anyone who tried to leave.
Adverb
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Most of those digging were civilians who took search efforts into their own hands, and tensions peaked over inadequate response from the Venezuelan government, whose soldiers, firefighters, police and military cadets were evidently underprepared to respond to the tragedy.
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Tensions peaked over what many Venezuelans viewed as an inadequate response by the government, whose soldiers, firefighters, police and military cadets were evidently underprepared to respond to the scope of the tragedy.
Adverb
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Once, there was a showdown with another tour bus — one presumably not carrying theatergoers.
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The users within that 7% gap had presumably found their question answered by the summary and felt no further online reading was needed to satisfy their curiosity or make a decision.
Adverb
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The long-term health effects of the fire and its smoke probably won’t be known unless researchers conduct a follow-up study, said Eisenman of UCLA.
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Chan says the trend probably isn't for daters who have a problem overworking in their relationships.
Adverb
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Gansey will likely look to address the backcourt and wing positions in his next moves as NBA free agency continues.
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After reviewing the security footage, McCurnin noticed the suspect appeared to be traveling on an electric scooter and believed the person likely lived nearby.
Cite this Entry
“Putatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putatively. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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