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
Surely there’s a tube of glue somewhere in this massive house, but this is about the outing, not its ostensible purpose.
—
Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Ti is the next step up in the family and starts at an ostensible $749.
—PCMAG, 4 Mar. 2025
All of the losses that come with slashing NOAA’s staffing and budget will do precious little to achieve the ostensible goal of the White House and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Just last week, Axios reported on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s plan to use artificial intelligence to comb the social media accounts of student visa holders in a search for ostensible terrorist sympathies.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensible
Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Ti is the next step up in the family and starts at an ostensible $749.
—PCMAG, 4 Mar. 2025
All of the losses that come with slashing NOAA’s staffing and budget will do precious little to achieve the ostensible goal of the White House and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Just last week, Axios reported on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s plan to use artificial intelligence to comb the social media accounts of student visa holders in a search for ostensible terrorist sympathies.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensible
Adjective
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As a result, the union met with Carr on Monday in apparent hopes that Carr, who has promised tight scrutiny of the merger, uses his muscle to achieve measures that protect workers.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2025
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In 1932 Chicago police raided an apparent summit meeting of gangsters, and arrested Lansky and five others on vagrancy charges.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
When as natural as possible is your ultimate goal, Jergens is your bestie.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
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Fans began speculating about a possible Thug album dropping later that night.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Entertainment Fans of the show on social media seem to be missing a lot of crucial character development, and there’s an obvious explanation why.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
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In its wildest moments, Coogler’s film seems like a collision of Lovecraft Country with True Blood, though more obvious comparisons will likely be drawn to From Dusk Till Dawn.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 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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In Europe, projections showed a probable increase in Ambrosia—or ragweed pollen—also linked to rising temperatures.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
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The presence of at least six US B-2 stealth bombers in the Indian Ocean and a second aircraft carrier in the Middle East only fueled speculation in Israel that a strike was not only possible, but increasingly probable.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In Bangkok, Rick and Frank have just infiltrated the home of Rick’s dad’s supposed murderer, which could easily end in homicide.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2025
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Other issues, pointed out by the defense, were the facts that the Alberts’ home — the supposed scene of the crime — was never searched by police and was then sold in the spring of 2023, The Boston Globe reported.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ostensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensible. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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