so-called

[soh-kawld] / ˈsoʊˈkɔld /

ADJECTIVE

supposed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alleged formal purported self-styled

WEAK

allegedly commonly named itular nominal ostensible pretended professed self-named soi-disant wrongly named

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.

During his stint as high representative, Paddy Ashdown memorably wielded these so-called "Bonn Powers" sacking 60 Bosnian-Serb officials in one day in 2004 for refusing to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

Refineries thus perennially run into the so-called “blend wall,” which is the amount of ethanol that can realistically be blended into the fuel supply.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

“I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives.’

From MarketWatch • May 10, 2026

Circle is the issuer of USDC, a so-called stablecoin whose value is pegged to the dollar and is backed by reserves such as Treasuries.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

“Velma, really! You can’t be serious about this so-called miracle medicine.”

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

Vocabulary lists containing so-called

Booked

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The Losers Club

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We Are Displaced

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