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
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Slipping into this two-piece set is basically the equivalent of putting on your favorite pair of silky, soft pajamas.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
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
That report indicated that Blue Jay’s high cost, manufacturing complexity and implementation challenges were reasons the system was put on ice.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Slipping into this two-piece set is basically the equivalent of putting on your favorite pair of silky, soft pajamas.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
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
-
He was accused of exaggerating his actions following King’s assassination and making anti-Semitic remarks.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The last thing anyone should want to do in such a scenario is exaggerate the reality of a health situation.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Game 3 of the 1917 World Series between the White Sox and New York Giants was rained out, Lardner was in New York and wrote a fictional column pretending the game had actually been played.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Led by the energetic Danny, the show take viewers on adventures to find pirate treasure, pretend to be superheroes, and fly like an airplane.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
During the test, teams will run through the full range of operations that would take place on launch day, including loading the SLS rocket with 700,000 gallons cryogenic liquid propellant that is later drained and conducting a mock countdown.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Kids will have a blast at the Seaport Museum next door, especially when exploring the mock-village section and tall-mast whaling ship.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Call it polish without pretense.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
This is not an e-bike; there are no pedals and, interestingly, no pretense of a bicycle categorization to blur regulatory lines.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Humphrey, determined to recreate the video as accurately as possible, worked with Southwest to film her parody on a real plane with the same flight attendant from the first video.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The governor’s willingness to mock the president through aggressive social-media parody elevated him to de facto resistance leader.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Most recently, the monarch donned the Celtic Knot brooch for a visit to one of London's most famous liveries in what amounted to a touching tribute to her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
-
An employee was observed not washing his hands in between changing taste and donning new gloves.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
February 20,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Every morning, animal care manager Kim Carr stops by to prepare breakfast, scattering treats across their enclosures that are filled with fake tree trunks, log piles and hanging branches — an organic jungle gym for creatures that are born to climb and play.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The allegedly fake document surfaced as CapRadio, a nonprofit broadcaster that is licensed to Sacramento State, underwent its standard annual audit in fall 2022.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Now, the spot has undergone a careful restoration of its facades just steps from Como’s city center.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
18 Feb. 2026
-
There’s enormous relief in letting go of the facade of perfect containment or the need to perform goodness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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