1
as in to throw (on)
to place on one's person
I put on a coat and shoes to go outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to exaggerate
to describe or express in too strong terms
some critics are putting it on when they say it's the best comedy ever made
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of
put on a show of anger just for fun
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
a put-on goofy voice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pretense
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in parody
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of put on
Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Most of us don't have enough sets of PJs to put on a fresh pair every night.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
But this isn’t what irks rage’s older detractors, who grew up loving Dr. Dre and knew the misogyny of 2001 was not the put-on some of the gun talk might’ve been.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Verb
In the frenzy, per Science Daily, bones were put on view at the farm, and other artifacts later wre brought on tours with the Ringling Brothers show.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Most of us don't have enough sets of PJs to put on a fresh pair every night.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
With access to troves of archival footage, Braverman shows Kaufman transforming the very nature of comedy by launching the put-on into existential extremes.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
But this isn’t what irks rage’s older detractors, who grew up loving Dr. Dre and knew the misogyny of 2001 was not the put-on some of the gun talk might’ve been.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
-
Machado also pushed back on suggestions that Venezuela’s role in drug trafficking had been exaggerated to support the argument of those calling for regime change.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Blazy exaggerated the frayed hems that Coco Chanel loved into ragged edges by letting the cloth be overtaken slowly with tiny hanging strings of beads.—
Nathan Heller,
Vogue,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The one approach that never works is to pretend that the behavior isn’t happening.—
Susan Caminiti,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Those people have pretended to be censored and had a really hard time, like their speech is being taken away, but they’re being paid millions of dollars by the richest people in the world to protect the status quo.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The program for career day will feature panels, mock interviews and networking opportunities.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to conduct more complex experiments using mock debris with different shapes and compositions.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Under this pretense, wearing a MAGA hat in a Google office or entertaining eugenicist ideas about race and intelligence was a way of daring to go where liberals feared to tread.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
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Under the pretense of a back-to-school rules review, the sophomore through senior classes at Ruskin were treated to a stirring drumline performance before a shocked Sixta took the the stage.—
Ilana Arougheti
Updated October 7,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Attorney General Pam Bondi reacted to Amy Poehler's Saturday Night Live (SNL) parody with a direct message to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Season 2 of The Hunting Wives looks pretty steamy… at least according to Saturday Night Live‘s parody.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For the shoot, the star also donned a black ball gown with lace detailing at the neckline and a voluminous skirt.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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If donning the jacket leather side up, pops of sherpa fuzziness will still be yours to enjoy, as the coat’s patch pockets are artfully topped by the material.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As a precaution, health and trade associations are urging consumers and bars to destroy or properly dispose of empty bottles to prevent counterfeiters from reusing them in the production of fake liquor.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
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After going for it on fourth-and-short successfully with a direct snap to Hall on a fake punt, the Jets proceeded to … run out the clock with runs, short passes, and by not snapping the ball on fourth down.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Stroll by Palma de Mallorca Town Hall, where a clock hangs above the building’s Baroque facade.—
Emilio Parra Doiztua,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The facade of the building was retained, with the name of the brand now painted discreetly on the brick as well as awnings that were added to the top-floor windows.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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