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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Indian benchmark indices, in sharp contrast, are the only ones in the red, falling over 10%, data from LSEG shows.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
4 June 2026 -
With its focus on discovering distinctive talent, MFW includes runway shows, as well as market and showroom, where collections can be directly evaluated by buyers – formats that can support sales activity.—
Malana VanTyler,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
Noun
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There would be more scripted and carefully choreographed moments in his TV spots for Calvin Klein jeans and Obsession, collaborations with the writer Doon Arbus (daughter of Diane and Allan Arbus) that took chances (and which, for some viewers, are inseparable from memorable spoofs on SNL).—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
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The success of more straightforward spoofs such as Schaffer’s The Naked Gun last year is also reassuring; that film was a classic joke-a-minute throwback that largely worked (for both viewers and critics), more in line with the sort of fare that the Lonely Island made early on.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, 55-year-old Ziad Khalel, of Clinton Township, was arraigned on Tuesday on one count of false pretenses - $1,000 ore more but less than $20,000 and as a habitual offender - second offense.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
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According to Placer Superior Court filings, one false pretenses count and the personal identifying information charge stemmed from a June 21, 2025, incident.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Its various iterations have managed to hold viewers' attention in the years since (the 2009 sibling version inspired a slew of parodies and fan fiction).—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
20 May 2026
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His most viral videos include skits about dueling Drake and Kendrick Lamar tracks and parodies amplifying more serious lyrical messages in popular party music.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Dwayne Johnson is a confident guy and has donned any number of ridiculous guises during his Saturday Night Live hosting gigs over the years.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
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Berenger, a character who appears in different guises in several of his plays, is Ionesco’s version of Everyman.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
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This can include easier jobs, like fresh paint jobs on facades and park clean-ups overnight, or more intense projects like refreshing and reimagining attractions.—
Megan duBois,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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Well, mounting heavy opaque panels across glass skyscraper facades radically changes the appearance, weight, and thermal characteristics of the building itself.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 May 2026
Noun
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Nilsson’s version shares little with its source beyond Adam and Eve themselves, here recast as doughy, beigy silhouettes striking poses amid an almost psychedelic soup of parti-color fronds, blobs, and amoebas.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Giudice struck a few poses at the White Fox show at the Setai hotel in Miami Beach for Miami Swim Week, which wrapped Sunday.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Noun
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His full interview with Connelly airs Monday on ABC's Good Morning America.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
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Aftersun is a weekly recap talk show that airs as Saturday’s episode of Love Island USA.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
29 May 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 4 Jun. 2026.
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