PUTATIVELY Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

putatively

adverb

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

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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.

Recent Examples of putatively Miller has long been concerned with some of the actions taken after 9/11, putatively in her name, against Muslims in general. — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 The eight-story glass building at the center of the complex, which had putatively been devoted to vaccine manufacturing, was in fact a highly classified defense facility. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026 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 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 Over the next several years, Leo, through the Judicial Crisis Network, continued to back conservative candidates in Wisconsin, where judicial elections are, putatively, nonpartisan. — Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 11 Oct. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for putatively

Adverb

Unicycles and prizes By now, a light drizzle has set in, but the two unicyclists are still making their rounds in the car park, seemingly undeterred.

— Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Despite the collaborative nature of Act V, the power play came out when Usher sat on a throne with a diamond crown— seemingly asserting himself as R&B’s King.

— Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of seemingly

Adverb

That little girl was apparently perfectly built for fraud, somehow, and found the perfect environment in Silicon Valley, where exaggeration and outright lying were de rigueur.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
Just before the second half began, a number of fans were given transgender pride flags, apparently in an effort to obstruct other spectators' view of the banner and XX-XY supporters.

— Matt Calkins , Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of apparently

Adverb

There’s a gleaming hospital and a string of new downtown spots to supplement The Bar, the beloved dive that was supposedly among the inspirations for the Patch Café in the TV series Landman, which is set here.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Even the ads that are supposedly okay for kids can be overstimulating and aggressive, so try to be vigilant on those, too.

— Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of supposedly

Adverb

The fear of effeminization has never felt so acute, which presumably is why Matt Damon’s Odysseus needed bulging muscles, to ensure his sensitivity was mitigated by pecs of steel.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Levering pointed out users on social media presumably used the technology to transpose Uecker’s voice over the game-clinching call from Game 4 of the NLCS last Thursday.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of presumably

Adverb

So the theoretical maximum is 256 ESSMs rather than 64 missiles, although a practical loadout would probably mix missile types.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
The overall answer probably won't surprise you, but the nitty-gritty details might.

— Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of probably

Adverb

Unwinding the administration’s investments would prove legally and politically difficult — but Democrats likely won’t want to, at least not right away.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Global energy markets are likely more than a year away from returning to normal, the head of the International Energy Agency warned on Tuesday.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of likely

Browse Nearby Words

putative

putatively

put away

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“Putatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/putatively. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of putatively

adverb

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