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Ostensible vs Avowed - What's the difference?

ostensible | avowed | Synonyms |

Ostensible is a synonym of avowed.


As adjectives the difference between ostensible and avowed

is that ostensible is apparent, evident; meant for open display while avowed is openly acknowledged.

As a verb avowed is

(avow).

ostensible

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Apparent, evident; meant for open display.
  • * 1956–1960 , (second edition, 1960), chapter ii: “Motives and Motivation”, page 32:
  • 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.
  • * '>citation
  • 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.
  • Appearing as such; being such in appearance; professed, supposed (rather than demonstrably true or real).
  • The ostensible reason for his visit to New York was to see his mother, but the real reason was to get to the Yankees game the next day.

    Derived terms

    * ostensibly

    Antonyms

    * (meant for open display)

    References

    * ----

    avowed

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (avow)
  • Adjective

    (-)
  • openly acknowledged
  • positively stated
  • asserted under oath, or vow
  • * 1678 , :
  • His first avowed intent, to be a pilgrim - Who would true valour see

    Derived terms

    * avowedly