A word that means "apparently" but with less conviction? [duplicate]
Example:
The circular window was apparently made to match the shape of the sun.
Here apparently expresses doubt, but with a certain level of conviction: that was the intent of the person who designed the window. Is there a word similar to apparently but with less level of conviction? Almost as if the conclusion were a rough guess? Or something that the speaker made up?
Seemingly is what you're looking for.
Seemingly vs. apparently
Apparently:
Is used when you have read or been told something, although you are not certain it is true. Apparently it's going to rain today.
Is used when the situation is different than what you thought it was. You know I told you Alice's party was on the 13th? Well, I just saw her and it's apparently on the 14th. How do you like that?
Seemingly:
Appearing to be something, especially when this is not true. He remains confident and seemingly untroubled by his recent problems.
According to the facts that you know. The factory closure is seemingly inevitable.
(Quora)
Supposedly:
used to show that you do not believe that something you have been told is true: Well, the tickets are supposedly in the mail. ( -- Cambridge Dictionaries Online)
Ostensibly:
"As appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so"
'Apparently' as defined in the OED:
"As far as one knows or can see"
...only implies the converse.
So in my mind 'ostensibly' has a larger measure of doubt.