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
Erica Sloan, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026
He and others in the Nazi high command are put on trial for war crimes, and Göring engages in mind games with Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek).
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Talie Smith, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for put on
Verb
Other women are put on these drugs while undergoing chemotherapy for cancer—to shield their ovaries from being harmed by the treatment—or as part of long-term management for hormone-dependent cancer.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026
He and others in the Nazi high command are put on trial for war crimes, and Göring engages in mind games with Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek).
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The most earnest-sounding campaign can feel like a put-on.
—Talie Smith, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
-
One expert, however, testified for prosecutors that the defendant was malingering, or exaggerating his psychiatric issues and was not legally insane at the time.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The deadpan one-liners exaggerating his strength, speed and toughness to absurd levels, turned Norris into one of the internet’s first global memes.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An unremarkable skit with host Tina Fey pretending to be Mary Poppins.—
Scott Bryan,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2026
-
That's the county JD Vance pretends to be from.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Chiefs beat writers Pete Sweeney and Blair Kerkhoff convened in The Star’s (mock) draft room to come up with choices for all nine picks.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant revealed her WNBA mock draft Friday.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The design is purely utilitarian—no aesthetic pretense—but if clean, efficient slicing is the goal, this knife is built for it.—
Jamie Thilman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Under owner Carter Arnett, the restaurant has stayed true to its core identity — classic flavors, consistent execution and hospitality rooted in genuine warmth rather than pretense.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Then, like water to wine, Moral Orel transformed from a cheeky parody to a challenging, audacious character study.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The case tested the limits of parody and the license artists can take in social commentary directed at public figures.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As someone who played in front of patrons donning tuxedos and evening gowns, Dell Curry knows a thing or two about crowds.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The video showed the teenager donning a black tactical vest, black boots, and a black hat.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The difference between a real deadline, imposed for legitimate reasons from without, and a fake one, conjured from within, is like the difference between eating brunch and seeing it on Instagram.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Later, O’Brien touted a fake company tasked with reformatting movies for smaller and smaller handheld devices, but the joke missed the mark.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Via Mormino Penna is one of Sicily’s most theatrical streetscapes, lined with facades adorned with apotropaic masks, grotesque faces meant to ward off evil.—
Jenn Rice,
Vogue,
18 Mar. 2026
-
For a long time, the property gleamed in the daylight with its white, ornate facade against lush green landscaping and often at night, as well, with twinkling holiday lights attached to almost every surface.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
