Ostensibly vs Possibly - What's the difference?
ostensibly | possibly |
(modal) seemingly, apparently, on the surface
* 1889 , Leslie Stephen, Sidney Lee, Dictionary of national biography
*
* 2007 , Brian Herbert, Kevin J Anderson, Sandworms of Dune
(modifying a clause or predicate)
(modifying a verb)
As adverbs the difference between ostensibly and possibly
is that ostensibly is (modal) seemingly, apparently, on the surface while possibly is (modifying a clause or predicate).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, ostensivelypossibly
English
Adverb
(en adverb)- Possibly , they will make gains in the midterm elections.
- It was possibly the costliest mistake in the organization's history.
- This rare and possibly unique specimen must be conserved.
- I'm much stronger than you, so you can't possibly win.
- I couldn't possibly be there on time.
- I couldn't possibly cheat on my wife.
- It seems unlikely, but, yes, they could possibly win even now.
- The police don't know him, and the information they have leads them to think he could possibly have murdered his wife.