supposedly

adverb

sup·​pos·​ed·​ly sə-ˈpō-zəd-lē How to pronounce supposedly (audio)
also -ˈpōzd-lē
Synonyms of supposedlynext
: as is supposed : according to what is or was said, claimed, or believed by some
a supposedly true story
a supposedly good restaurant
He had dozens of people around him, supposedly looking after him …—Philip Norman
Daddy took me to the Legion, to shoot pool supposedly.—Mary Karr

Synonyms of supposedly

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Examples of supposedly in a Sentence

she's supposedly too sick to come—or so she says
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Part of the pleasure is hearing Satanic Planet expertly chart the narrow path between Satan Is Real-style camp and the self-seriousness of decades of supposedly satanic black metal. — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026 Described as gentle and thoughtful, Odeh sought to find common ground with those who supposedly were his enemy and, as a result, his death was as mourned by the local Jewish community as by his loved ones. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 That dark period in the hamlet’s history supposedly ended with Jurek’s capture, give or take a few painful loose ends. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026 But the Green Man of legend – a glowing, threatening figure with supernatural powers who supposedly lived in a tunnel – was not. — Jeffrey Tolbert, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for supposedly

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of supposedly was in 1597

Rhymes for supposedly

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Browse Nearby Words

supposed
supposedly
supposer
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Cite this Entry

“Supposedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supposedly. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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