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
Relevance
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
-
So these shows are very healthy relative to a lot of other media.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
13 May 2026 -
The move to Netflix is part of an expansion of the streamer’s live event programming which has seen a push with live sports such as boxing and wrestling (WWE Raw), live stand-up comedy specials and awards shows, including SAG-AFTRA’s Actor Awards.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Retro Rewind players run a Blockbuster Video-like movie-rental store set in the early 1990s, complete with spoofs of real blockbusters of the era.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the documentary, a man running the shelter, who identified himself as Charles Lubajja, tells the undercover reporters that the shelter exists primarily to make money from social media users abroad under false pretenses.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
In the movie, members of the narcotics unit face suspicion for allegedly stealing some of the money under false pretenses and for their own benefit.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Broadway, top-heavy with musical parodies and attention-grabbing revivals, is having a strange season by all accounts.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Over the years, audiences have seen the Negotiator under many guises, like a martial arts expert, a cowboy, and even a mariachi musician.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
All of the buildings have these facades that are intricately carved in Baroque and Rococo designs.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 May 2026
-
Historic preservation is often dismissed as nostalgia, the hobby of people who prefer old facades to modern needs.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Researchers have therefore been scrambling to quantify what risk all that smoke poses for human health.—
Joanna Thompson,
Space.com,
12 May 2026
-
In April 2021, Borelli and McCreary hit their best poses in their protective gear on set.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The show was last week recommissioned for a second season before the first airs.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
-
Where to Watch Kentucky Derby 2026 The horse racing event (and pre-race coverage) airs on NBC, which can be streamed live via DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling or Hulu + Live TV.—
Erin Lassner,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Put-ons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-ons. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
