as in pretends
to take on a false or deceptive appearance
she's not half as innocent as she likes to let on
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Recent Examples of lets on
Analysts say the latest developments in Sino-Russian relations reinforce longstanding suspicions defense cooperation between the quasi allies runs deeper than Beijing lets on.
—
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lets on
pretends
Verb
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In a particularly poignant moment in the film, Jiang stands by the window at night and pretends to capture and punch the shadow of a security guard downstairs.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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The label is applied when a teen pretends or forces himself to present in this way just to win the romantic attention of the young women around him.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lets on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lets%20on. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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