1
as in shows
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spoofs
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-ons
Noun
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The program includes Missoni and tailoring atelier Saman Amel trunk shows, and multi-brand personal shopping experiences.—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
18 June 2026 -
After rape allegations on Married At First Sight UK rocked the UK television industry, there has been a growing conversation about how welfare is administered on major reality shows.—
Emma Pringle,
Deadline,
17 June 2026
Noun
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But given the current box office sensations of Obsession and Backrooms, Tiddes certainly wishes the timing had allowed for spoofs of those horror movies.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
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Based on the Apple TV series, the fizzy throwback spoofs Golden Age musicals, and follows an on-the-rocks couple who are trapped in a town where people sing and dance incessantly.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Noun
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For all the Court’s pretenses—all of its insistence on the rule of law, precedent, and good faith—many critics and supporters of the Roberts Court see the institution as an appendage of the Republican Party.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
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Garcia-Hernandez was arrested on charges of theft of an elder adult, obtaining money by false pretenses, and attempted grand theft, along with an out-of-county warrant.—
Kassia Bonesteel,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Tiddes gave props to Paramount’s marketing department, which created a string of memes and myriad parodies on social media to lead the masses to Scary Movie.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
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Yankovic has recorded parodies of songs by Madonna, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Queen, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Eminem and many others.—
Sean Clancy,
Arkansas Online,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Footballing success, in differing guises, came a long time ago.—
Adam Leventhal,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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Opponents of affirmative action, who suspect that the process is still continuing under other guises, could seek to replicate the winning strategy of the Harvard and UNC cases, if testing data show large, unexplainable gaps in academic preparation among different student groups.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Narrow lanes wind past jewelry shops, rum bars and pastel facades.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
17 June 2026
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In Miami’s Overtown neighborhood, a small Section 8 housing community of 17 buildings stands out for its bright blue facades.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
Noun
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On Saturday, Biondo was one of 511 people who drew attention to the long-term threat climate change poses to the sport by simultaneously juggling a football for ten seconds in Miami Beach’s Lummus Park, setting a new Guinness World Record.—
Denise Hruby,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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Plan different outfits and poses, and take pictures outside or around town.—
Parents,
Parents,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Audiences hold influence over how reality television is marketed, experienced and discussed, prompting franchises to communicate with viewers before, during and after a season airs.—
Jacqueline Jevtich,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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Taskmaster airs on Channel 4 in the UK and the format has proven popular internationally, with numerous local versions up and running.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Put-ons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-ons. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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