ostensibly innocent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ostensibly innocent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears to be innocent on the surface but may have underlying implications or motives. Example: "The seemingly harmless gesture was, in fact, ostensibly innocent, masking a more complex agenda."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Little girls are the only creatures today who can be little Poussins," Balthus said late in life, and this show counterposes images of sly, knowing cats with ones of ostensibly innocent children.

The Guardian - Arts

Just as men are often surprised when women tell them of how often they hear cat-calls in the street, how often they are ignored in meetings, so the non-Jew may have no intuitive sense of the weight that ostensibly innocent language can carry.

Independent

His tormented psyche subtly reveals how such ostensibly innocent American pastimes as baseball and golf can become vicious backdrops to the disillusionment of the marginal, and how kindness can be poison to those on whom it is imposed — to the point where the refusal of gifts carelessly offered becomes a question of self-preservation.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Powerlessly we see the tragedy unfold through a medium installed ostensibly to protect the innocent from criminal wrongdoing.

The Guardian

I think ad puppets are spooky in the same way that clowns are: they're ostensibly childlike and fun and innocent, but there's a subliminal feeling of menace, the sense of a rotten core underneath the sugar-sweet surface, which makes it twice as bad.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Ostensibly, his goal is keep innocent people from incriminating themselves.

Vice

Punitive measures that ostensibly seek to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon without hurting innocent Iranians have caused medical supply shortages, restricted Iranian scientists' access to facilities, equipment and materials, and caused scientific journals and periodicals to refuse the publication of Iranian-authored articles.

Huffington Post

For the session, stills from which are also being used as offical photos for the Confessions tour, six innocent stallions were transported to a Hollywood sound stage, ostensibly so that the diva could display her passion for equestrianism.

Independent

California's law is ostensibly aimed at accurately identifying those arrested, solving crimes and exonerating the innocent.

The New York Times

Apparently, Lulu wasn't psyched to be spending her days staring into chrome canisters that, ostensibly, held some sort of explosive powder capable of taking out a room full of innocent people.

Vice

Meaning, ostensibly, most of us couldn't give a shit about the murder of thousands of innocent people – a situation it's surely impossible to spin a cheery take on.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ostensibly innocent", consider what the hidden or underlying issue might be. This adds depth and nuance to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "ostensibly innocent" when you genuinely believe something is entirely innocent. This phrase suggests a hidden motive or a more complex truth, so using it inappropriately can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ostensibly innocent" functions as an adverb-adjective construction, modifying a noun to suggest that its innocence is only apparent or superficial. Ludwig examples demonstrate how it qualifies actions, statements, or individuals whose innocent nature is questionable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ostensibly innocent" is a useful tool for expressing skepticism or doubt about something that appears harmless. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides real-world examples predominantly from news and media sources. Related phrases include "apparently blameless" and "seemingly harmless", each offering subtle variations in meaning. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure you are conveying the intended nuance of hidden complexity or questionable motives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ostensibly harmless

Direct synonym, replacing "innocent" with "harmless" to describe the superficial lack of danger.

ostensibly inoffensive

Replaces 'innocent' with 'inoffensive', focusing on the lack of causing offense rather than inherent innocence.

apparently blameless

Focuses on the surface appearance of lacking fault, similar to "ostensibly innocent" but emphasizes blamelessness.

apparently guiltless

Focuses on the apparent lack of guilt, rather than general innocence, shifting the emphasis slightly.

on the face of it, innocent

Adds an introductory phrase to explicitly state that the innocence is based on initial appearance.

seemingly harmless

Highlights the lack of visible threat or danger, shifting the focus from innocence to potential risk.

facially innocent

Implies innocence based on initial observation or immediate evidence.

outwardly innocuous

Emphasizes the external appearance of being harmless or inoffensive, akin to a superficial innocence.

apparently unblemished

Highlights the lack of visible flaws or marks, suggesting a superficial innocence.

superficially pure

Highlights the external appearance of purity, which could mask hidden corruption.

FAQs

What does "ostensibly innocent" mean?

The phrase "ostensibly innocent" describes something that appears to be innocent on the surface but may have underlying implications or motives. It suggests that the apparent innocence might be misleading.

How can I use "ostensibly innocent" in a sentence?

You can use "ostensibly innocent" to describe actions, people, or situations that seem harmless at first glance. For example: "The seemingly harmless gesture was, in fact, "ostensibly innocent", masking a more complex agenda."

What are some alternatives to "ostensibly innocent"?

Alternatives to "ostensibly innocent" include "apparently innocent", "seemingly innocent", or "outwardly innocuous", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "ostensibly innocent" instead of "actually innocent"?

"Ostensibly innocent" should be used when you suspect there is more to the situation than meets the eye, whereas "actually innocent" implies a genuine lack of guilt or wrongdoing. The former introduces doubt, while the latter asserts a fact.