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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Glaciers all over the world -- especially in Antarctica -- are also retreating at a rapid pace, recent research shows.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026 -
On other podcast apps, creators can enable access to their shows via a private RSS link.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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Way better than dusty game show and dinner party spoofs.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Court records said Dintaman, 47, pleaded guilty last October to one count each of conspiracy to commit false pretenses over $100,000, uttering and publishing, forgery and using a computer to commit a crime.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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And Trump, of course, is not—despite his pretenses otherwise—the sole decider here.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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How did Jane Lynch wind up in the YouTube ad parodies?—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
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Countless memes and parodies have circulated online.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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By the time my story about him was published in the November 2023 issue of Vanity Fair, Aryeh Dodelson, and all of his guises, had disappeared from the face of the earth.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
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In its many guises, idolatry has survived, despite regular and often cataclysmic proof of its dangers, for centuries and many people will consider a much-larger-than-life golden statue of a president to be perfectly splendid.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In a Castle Rock that's nearly unrecognizable today, Blanchard hopes the facades make viewers pause and honor the history of their town.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Its exterior is most notable for its gently curving facades across the building’s west and south faces.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Why did these people become memes, but countless other YouTubers or kids making funny poses failed to launch?—
Ben Pettis,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
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Ragahvan doesn't actually do the poses in class.—
Sheba Turk,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Men’s March Madness airs on TBS and truTV, while games livestream on HBO Max.—
Rudie Obias,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2026
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The next episode of Top Chef airs Monday, April 6.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 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 11 Apr. 2026.
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