ostensible

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With Ukrainian ports no longer accessible, all Transnistria’s exports now pass through Moldova, its ostensible adversary, with three-quarters of them either remaining there or going on to the European Union.

From Los Angeles Times

For one thing, the Saudis — our ostensible ally propped up by billions of dollars in U.S. military aid — were responsible for the murder of dissident journalist and Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

From Seattle Times

One of the items Varda collects during the course of the film is a clock without hands — and that ostensible deficiency is fine by her.

From New York Times

Graham is hilarious and heartbreaking as the ostensible antagonist, her outsize bravura punctured by a wrenching moment of true vulnerability.

From Los Angeles Times

Assuming that Washington is representative of the rest of the country, this ostensible “excise tax” is going to have a big impact on our state’s economy.

From Seattle Times