as in apparently
to all outward appearances
ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ostensibly
In 1924, the city seized Bruce's Beach under eminent domain, ostensibly for a park but likely to dispossess the Black owners.
—
Natalie Preddie, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2025
The operation — which Trump turned into a temporary federal agency through an executive order — is ostensibly aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy.
—Kevin Collier, NBC News, 5 Feb. 2025
Although Trump's tariff threat hinged ostensibly on concerns about drug trafficking, the delivery of the National Guard to the border will have undoubtedly satisfied his need to appear tough on immigration.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Are the dangers of ostensibly nonpartisan technology really so great?
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Natalie Preddie, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2025
The operation — which Trump turned into a temporary federal agency through an executive order — is ostensibly aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy.
—Kevin Collier, NBC News, 5 Feb. 2025
Although Trump's tariff threat hinged ostensibly on concerns about drug trafficking, the delivery of the National Guard to the border will have undoubtedly satisfied his need to appear tough on immigration.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Are the dangers of ostensibly nonpartisan technology really so great?
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensibly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensibly
Adverb
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The versatile Chestnut, 56, leads with intellect, charm and six-pack abs as Dr. John Watson, the beloved colleague of the apparently deceased Sherlock Holmes, in CBS' modern series.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
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Miller’s apparently been leaning on his new teammate this spring.—
Fabian Ardaya,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Adverb
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The main characters seemingly walk through the state in Season 5 and stay in Richmond for at least a week.—
Sabrina Moreno,
Axios,
21 Feb. 2025
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Staying long after the funeral, the seemingly benign Jérémie begins to casually insinuate himself into his late mentor’s family.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Feb. 2025
Adverb
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The government responded with an affidavit, supposedly from a prominent general, saying that the land had to be cleared and fenced off for military reasons, to prevent terror attacks.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2025
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Nor had the West anticipated that the Houthis in Yemen, a supposedly ragtag militia that had received a large arsenal of missiles from Tehran, would be capable of bringing global shipping in the Red Sea to a near standstill.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Adverb
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Now Quentin and his merry band of murderous gays are dead by her hand, presumably leaving Greg to enjoy an undivided inheritance of $500 million.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
17 Feb. 2025
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Six-year-old Louis and nine-year-old Charlotte's portraits presumably depict Kate, from the shoulders up.—
Greta Cross,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
Adverb
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But Vought’s smile and the evidently apolitical nature of the 28 words posted on Facebook and X were anything but normal for progressive alums.—
Mason Laney,
National Review,
15 Feb. 2025
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And Stone, who’s 81 now, evidently couldn’t be cajoled into comment.—
Wesley Morris,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2025
Adverb
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There are a lot of moving pieces, probably most importantly Colin himself.—
Aaron Couch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Feb. 2025
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Anyone who offers a confident explanation of the situation is probably wrong.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ostensibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensibly. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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