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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of put on
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2026
What a gorgeous, extremely Chicago touch for Marcus to put on the end of what could be the last supper at this place.
—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
These are two really good actors whose investments in what could have been let’s-put-on-a-show theater-kid performances go much deeper.
—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Verb
This war must stop, not only be put on hold, and threatening the negotiators is just wrong and stupid.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2026
What a gorgeous, extremely Chicago touch for Marcus to put on the end of what could be the last supper at this place.
—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Adjective
But after a perfunctory squeeze, her father lays his head on her shoulder in a gesture of affectionate, put-on penitence.
—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
These are two really good actors whose investments in what could have been let’s-put-on-a-show theater-kid performances go much deeper.
—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
-
After presenting the honors at the investiture at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the monarch donned a top hat for a garden party at the palace with Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and Prince Edward.
-
Japanese fans are donning cowboy hats at Texas BBQ restaurants.
Verb
-
The four-time Olympian was not exaggerating.
-
Many of the studies exaggerate the amount in human organs, the European officials concluded.
Verb
-
While attempting to clean up the bad press, the pair is forced to pretend to be best friends, during which the unlikely pair secretly falls in love.
-
The show only pretends to be organized around romantic couples.
Adjective
-
On Thursday, Gary Police Department personnel visited campers to teach about crime scene investigation and create a mock crime scene for students to solve.
-
An 11-year-old Dexter Sol Ansell is peering into his Zoom camera, hands pressed to his cheeks and mouth wide open in mock shock.
Noun
-
The longevity industry profits from mystifying the obvious, but Emanuel largely dispenses with pretense.
-
In granting the President this unbridled authority, the Court upends its precedent, misconstrues our history, and sheds any pretense of judicial modesty.
Noun
-
Scary Movie paved the way for more big-screen parodies, including Date Movie (2006), Epic Movie (2007), and Meet the Spartans (2008).
-
Their outmoded style, with its seriousness and corniness, its big acting choices and low budgets, is basically impossible to recreate without falling into parody.
Verb
-
In Monday’s annual Homeowners Association board election, president Karl de Borbon is running for a ninth consecutive term against opponents who accuse him of rigging last year’s election and a June 8 vote for a swimming pool deck refurbishment project and a bylaw amendment.
-
Backed by just a DJ (Dazedgxd, who opened the set) and a retina-scorching light rig up front, Jane acknowledged on Thursday that the stakes were getting much higher.
Verb
-
But there’s no way to simulate all the variables of real life, particularly the weather.
-
Instead of developing multiple aircraft designs or conducting thousands of expensive flight tests, engineers can simulate those scenarios digitally and rapidly iterate on designs.
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
