Ostensibly vs Probably - What's the difference?
ostensibly | probably |
(modal) seemingly, apparently, on the surface
* 1889 , Leslie Stephen, Sidney Lee, Dictionary of national biography
*
* 2007 , Brian Herbert, Kevin J Anderson, Sandworms of Dune
In all likelihood.
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As adverbs the difference between ostensibly and probably
is that ostensibly is seemingly, apparently, on the surface while probably is in all likelihood.ostensibly
English
Adverb
(-)- On 13 June the peshwa signed a new treaty, ostensibly complying with the demands of the British government...
- Up to a year or two ago it had been the custom to kill horses in the yards — ostensibly for fertilizer...
- People strive to achieve perfection — ostensibly an honorable goal — but complete perfection is dangerous. To be imperfect, but human, is far preferable.
Synonyms
* (seemingly) apparently, arguably, at first blush, seemingly, ostensivelyprobably
English
Alternative forms
* (colloquial)Adverb
(en adverb)citation, passage=“[…] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes
William E. Conner
An Acoustic Arms Race, volume=101, issue=3, page=206-7, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close
