I do not understand Tom's ostensible contempt for the sartorial concerns of his peers.
Source: tatoeba (3281548)
Ostensible
/ɑˈstɛns.ɪ.bəl/
Synonyms for "ostensible" (114 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (23)
Strong matches (34)
claimedcolorablecoloredconspicuousdeceptivedelusionaldelusionarydelusivedelusorydereisticdreamlikedreamyerroneousfallaciousfalsefantasticfantasticalflagrantformalgilded
Show 13 more words
glaringhanging outhypocriticalillusionalillusionaryillusiveillusoryimaginaryin name onlyin reliefin the foregroundmeretriciousmisleading
Noun(1 words)
Related words (57)
Adjective(10 words)
ostensiveoutward shapeperceivedperceived irrationalitypresumptivepublicizedputativeseemingseeming effectsupposed
Adjective(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: apparent, airy, all in the mind, alleged, alleged.
- Sentence evidence is available for ostensible, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "ostensible".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "ostensible"
Keep "ostensible" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "ostensible" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "ostensible", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "ostensible" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesdescriptornominal designation
More specific
6 entriesalleged reasonapparent motiveclaimed authoritynominal officepublicized roleputative justification
Collocations
6 entriesostensible authorityostensible evidenceostensible justificationostensible motiveostensible purposeostensible reason
Inflections
2 entriesmore ostensiblemost ostensible
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
3 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
Motives, of course, may be mixed; but this only means that a man aims at a variety of goals by means of the same course of action. Similarly a man may have a strong motive or a weak one, an ulterior motive or an ostensible one.
Source: wiktionary
In witch-trials the conflict was officially defined as between the accused and God, or between the accused and the Catholic (later Protestant) church, as God's earthly representative. […] Behind the ostensible conflict of the witch-trial lay the usual conflicts of social class, values, and human relationships.
Source: wiktionary
The ostensible reason this provision was added to a bill on international trade is to combat the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, a grass-roots campaign that seeks to pressure Israel to change its policies toward the Palestinians.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "ostensible"?
Closest matches include apparent, airy, all in the mind, alleged, alleged.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "ostensible"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.