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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of put on
The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The Republican vice president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are visiting Camp Pendleton in North San Diego County to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, and troops will put on a show of amphibious vehicles and aircraft with a beach landing demonstration.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
But this isn’t what irks rage’s older detractors, who grew up loving Dr. Dre and knew the misogyny of 2001 was not the put-on some of the gun talk might’ve been.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Verb
If the series is put on hold, Notre Dame will have won the last three meetings — all by double digits.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The Republican vice president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are visiting Camp Pendleton in North San Diego County to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, and troops will put on a show of amphibious vehicles and aircraft with a beach landing demonstration.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
But this isn’t what irks rage’s older detractors, who grew up loving Dr. Dre and knew the misogyny of 2001 was not the put-on some of the gun talk might’ve been.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
-
Machado also pushed back on suggestions that Venezuela’s role in drug trafficking had been exaggerated to support the argument of those calling for regime change.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Blazy exaggerated the frayed hems that Coco Chanel loved into ragged edges by letting the cloth be overtaken slowly with tiny hanging strings of beads.—
Nathan Heller,
Vogue,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tapping into his State Farm acting chops on fourth down while leading 7-0, Mahomes pretended to be frustrated with a Reid play-call before handing the ball off.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
21 Oct. 2025
-
In the finale, Brandis pretends not to see the million-dollar stash in Maeve's possession and zips the bag back up, looking up as birds sing.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The program for career day will feature panels, mock interviews and networking opportunities.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to conduct more complex experiments using mock debris with different shapes and compositions.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Under this pretense, wearing a MAGA hat in a Google office or entertaining eugenicist ideas about race and intelligence was a way of daring to go where liberals feared to tread.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
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Under the pretense of a back-to-school rules review, the sophomore through senior classes at Ruskin were treated to a stirring drumline performance before a shocked Sixta took the the stage.—
Ilana Arougheti
Updated October 7,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Attorney General Pam Bondi reacted to Amy Poehler's Saturday Night Live (SNL) parody with a direct message to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Season 2 of The Hunting Wives looks pretty steamy… at least according to Saturday Night Live‘s parody.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That was the remit behind everything from the first Chelsea boots donned by Victorian-era equestrians to the combat boots worn by millions during the Second World War.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Hundreds of congressional staffers lined up on what was the 15th day of the shutdown for a chance to snap a picture with the senator and his 60-pound bulldog, whose face donned custom cakes and cake pops.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In a world where fake medical implants, counterfeit microchips, and cloned devices can threaten lives, money, and security, proving that a physical object is truly genuine is a major challenge.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The Broncos also were successful on a fake punt in the fourth quarter.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Stroll by Palma de Mallorca Town Hall, where a clock hangs above the building’s Baroque facade.—
Emilio Parra Doiztua,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The facade of the building was retained, with the name of the brand now painted discreetly on the brick as well as awnings that were added to the top-floor windows.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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