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
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
Politics Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave
As part of Trump's efforts to shrink the federal bureaucracy and slash government spending, the president has issued a slew of executive orders aiming to eliminate many of the entities contacted by DOGE.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 17 May 2025
Rachel Flynn, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
Also, Burgess is British IRL, so props to him for faking a bad accent, then using a put-on American one for the rest of the episode.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 29 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for put on
Verb
It's put on by the PGA of America, which are two separate organizations.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
Politics Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave
As part of Trump's efforts to shrink the federal bureaucracy and slash government spending, the president has issued a slew of executive orders aiming to eliminate many of the entities contacted by DOGE.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 17 May 2025
Adjective
Turns out, dat good ole dialect is a put-on: James speaks like a professor.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
Also, Burgess is British IRL, so props to him for faking a bad accent, then using a put-on American one for the rest of the episode.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 29 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
-
Coffey seemed to exaggerate it, throwing her hands up while going down.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 May 2025
-
The movie exaggerates the struggles Scaravella faced.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
An investigation revealed the teen had corresponded online with an individual pretending to be a 20-year-old woman, later identified by authorities as Kassi.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
10 May 2025
-
And by the fourth, all that remained was an empty row of houses, merely pretending to be homes.—
Jessica Guerrieri,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
In the past year, Sanders was projected as high as a top 3 NFL draft pick in some mock drafts.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
7 May 2025
-
With a draft order now known, a collection of our NHL reporters combined for a mock draft of the first 16 picks.—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
In the source material, Dina’s pregnancy is used as an excuse to leave her behind in the theatre, pitting players as Ellie alone, who can set aside any pretenses of the journey being anything more than a revenge mission without her partner’s safety to worry about.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
5 May 2025
-
Republicans who fall for this scheme are abandoning any pretense of free-market principles.—
Sally Pipes,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
Wood wasn't the only person to address the SNL parody of The White Lotus, with SNL cast member Bowen Yang speaking about the incident in an interview with Extra.—
Joey Nolfi Published,
EW.com,
6 May 2025
-
There are plenty of weird conspiracies on TikTok about Beyoncé, both satirical and sincere, and the Zendaya big hat meme is a parody of an unhinged conspiracy theory.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Verb
-
In the snap, Harry donned an olive green cowboy hat paired with a gray shacket, dark jeans and a black T-shirt while Meghan turned heads in an off-the-shoulder denim dress from one of her favorite brands Carolina Herrera.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
-
On Wednesday, she was spotted with pal Kendall Jenner; both donned their much more comfortable—but still trendy—ballerina flats.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
YouTube has further cracked down on fake movie trailer channels.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
12 May 2025
-
This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Late on Thursday, Dolton Village Trustee Stanley Brown took in the church’s facade from beneath his black cap.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
-
While this might create a show-stopping facade, bigger isn’t always better.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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