1
as in to throw (on)
to place on one's person
I put on a coat and shoes to go outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to exaggerate
to describe or express in too strong terms
some critics are putting it on when they say it's the best comedy ever made
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of
put on a show of anger just for fun
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
a put-on goofy voice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pretense
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
my bravery was all a put-on—I was scared out of my wits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in parody
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
for a moment, I couldn't tell if the commercial was serious or a deadpan put-on of ads by other insurance companies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of put on
Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 June 2026
The ballads, though, are where the trumpeter puts on his Harmon mute and things turn magical.
—Natalie Weiner, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
Talie Smith, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
With access to troves of archival footage, Braverman shows Kaufman transforming the very nature of comedy by launching the put-on into existential extremes.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Verb
Unlike many other awards shows, TCA doesn’t charge submission fees (which is how most of the smaller organizations are still able to put on a show).
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 June 2026
The ballads, though, are where the trumpeter puts on his Harmon mute and things turn magical.
—Natalie Weiner, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
Adjective
The most earnest-sounding campaign can feel like a put-on.
—Talie Smith, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
With access to troves of archival footage, Braverman shows Kaufman transforming the very nature of comedy by launching the put-on into existential extremes.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
-
When Gable underwent shoulder surgery in the summer of 2025, he was replaced temporarily by Ludwig Kaiser, who donned the El Grande Americano mask and gimmick.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
The Revolution’s game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs was to have marked the team’s 11th annual Pride Night, but players refused to don special jerseys that had rainbow sleeves.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Replay shows the defender never made meaningful contact and the offensive player overly-exaggerated the contact (flopped).—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
Perry has recently favored footwear that exaggerates a familiar evening shape.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
The criminals then follow up by phone, pretending to be IT support and ask employees to join screen-sharing sessions or install remote-access software.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Beauty, then, arises from the pain and struggle of experiencing oneself as a site of divine truancy, and ugly is that which pretends to be directly equivalent to the soul, God, etc.—
Esther Yi,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Public health officials have been preparing for months, said Philadelphia’s Raval-Nelson, including with mock emergency drills and communications with counterparts around the country.—
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
The mock-neck tank pairs effortlessly with jeans, shorts, or skirts, while the floral wide-leg pants can stand on their own with a simple white tee.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Mayim Bialik made her Big Bang Theory debut on season 3 as Amy, a neurobiologist who joined the gang under the pretense of being a potential love match for Sheldon via an online dating site.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
-
This year, McVay avoided any pretense of suspense.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Ru’s previous movies, like her blaxploitation parody series Starrbooty, are entertainingly low-budget ridiculousness but not worth paying to see on the big screen.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
-
For Entertainment Weekly's Scary Movie cover story, the returning protagonist of the first four entries in the horror parody franchise broke down all the films that co-creators and co-writers Shawn and Marlon Wayans set Faris up to knock down in the latest.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors say that Harrison continued to go on a robbery spree after the shooting, which ended only after police rigged his Mercedes with a secret tracking device and rounded him up, finding a shirt soaked in Gormley’s blood inside the vehicle.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
-
Class-wise, money-wise, the system is rigged against him.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
At May Mobility, Olson said that involves installing systems in autonomous cars that are capable of simulating and assessing various scenarios simultaneously and choosing the best option.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
16 June 2026
-
These clocks help ensure a peaceful morning by simulating the gradual light produced by a sunrise.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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