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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Yet most power plants served by those mines plan to quit burning coal altogether within 10 years, an Associated Press data analysis shows.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025 -
Then came Wallows musician Dylan Minnette and Mean Girls star Renée Rapp at back-to-back Los Angeles shows.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Today, Neeson is doing action spoofs (thank God), and even the John Wick series has run its course.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Harold is so clearly not a great man that his pretenses feel more like cries for help.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
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They were arraigned on Friday in Brockton District Court on one count each of larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses, embezzlement, and conspiracy.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The moment — delivered by Steinfeld’s character Mary on a humid New Orleans train platform — was clipped, memed and replayed across TikTok, igniting think pieces and parodies alike.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
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Free speech covers the jokes, the satire, the parodies—even the dumb, crass, or offensive ones.—
Lizz Winstead,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Bad actors can take on all kinds of guises—including pretending to be lawyers.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The town boasts architecturally-adorable features like small squares and pink granite and white stone facades, along with local boutiques and artisan products.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
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The soft hum of Italian streets and historic marble facades swelled with cinema’s finest during the Venice Film Festival, providing the perfect backdrop for a conversation that feels as timeless as the city itself.—
Bruna Nessif,
Variety,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Quickly check your cards to see if any of the poses match and be the first to grab the star to win.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
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Still, because of the unique threats this shutdown poses, this time could be different for markets, too.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The show will be available to stream with a regular Hulu subscription Sunday, the day after a new episode airs.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Oct. 2025
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Breakthrough Women in Science & Medicine is streaming online and airs on PBS.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
3 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Put-ons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-ons. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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