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
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Here’s what to know about quinoa’s nutrition and five bowls worth putting on your table.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 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
Thomas said after the round that he, Bradley and fellow USA Ryder Cupper Cameron Young, who won the Cadillac Championship earlier this month, were put on the clock, with the official telling them to pick up the pace.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Here’s what to know about quinoa’s nutrition and five bowls worth putting on your table.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 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
-
Apple just settled a class-action lawsuit for exaggerating the AI capabilities of its newest iPhones.—
Vitaliy Katsenelson,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
Someone could leave out important details, exaggerate or accidentally confuse you without meaning to.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The two initially make a deal where Hannah exchanges free tutoring lessons for Garrett pretending to be her boyfriend, making her crush jealous.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
With the war’s turbulence on the economy more prevalent and the internet now throttled, Russians no longer have the luxury of pretending the war in Ukraine isn’t happening.—
Daniel DePetris,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Strangers are matched by experts and move in together after mock wedding ceremonies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
-
The first mock drafts tend to go up just after the previous year’s real draft ends.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Officials allege the group sold the oil under false pretenses and used the profits to sustain and expand the original food fraud scheme.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
There was the pretense of happiness in his childhood home in Depression-era New York (the city is captured in terrifically evocative clips).—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
One posted a video parody of the 2004 Downfall film, portraying Bass as Hitler.—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
Young Frankenstein, a loving parody of 1930s monster movies, also starred Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Teri Garr, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn and Kenneth Mars.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately the wig has had a second outing with Fouracres donning it again in Episode 7, when his parody Attenborough turned up to wrestle a discontented rhino during Weekend Update.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
Woods, with facial hair, donned a black long sleeve and hat with sunglasses, gray shorts and black shoes, while still wearing a compression sleeve on his left leg.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The bot-detection firm Cyabra analyzed seven days of activity around the ad and determined that 15 percent of the TikTok accounts commenting on it were fake but had created a disproportionately large percentage of the uproar.—
Lane Brown,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
To return the favor, Graham proposes a fake dating scheme with Wells to make her crush, singer Justin Kohl (Josh Heuston), jealous.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Behind a red brick facade complemented by dark green shutters and a matching front door, the home spans about 5,200 square feet across three stories.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
19 May 2026
-
Glittering with the Edwardian charm of its grand façade at one of London’s great addresses—140 Park Lane—London Marriott Hotel Park Lane offers plush stays for low‑key business travelers who put a premium on privacy, set opposite a leafy corner of Hyde Park.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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