as in pretending
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 letting on
What happens next could matter far more than either side is letting on.
—
Mark Minevich, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
But if any such expansion plans are in the works, Goldman isn’t letting on.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
But according to renowned astrologer Chani Nicholas, the implications are more complicated than certain media may be letting on.
—Quispe López, Them., 9 Sep. 2025
Mark Minevich, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
But if any such expansion plans are in the works, Goldman isn’t letting on.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
But according to renowned astrologer Chani Nicholas, the implications are more complicated than certain media may be letting on.
—Quispe López, Them., 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for letting on
pretending
Verb
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Online adult platforms are being severely restricted these days as new laws banning materials involving adults pretending to be under 18 are put into place.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 May 2026
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Other highlights from the show included a sketch where Rodrigo and Ben Marshall played a pair of exes pretending to be in new relationships, as well as the latest edition of a recurring sketch about Shop TV hosts selling a product that looks very inappropriate.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Letting on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/letting%20on. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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