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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of put on
George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 10 Feb. 2025
As trillions of dollars were suddenly put on hold, so was 80 percent of SOUL's budget for the next five years.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
Megan McArdle, Washington Post, 15 July 2024
An artist on the court and a put-on artist off, Walton was an all-time great basketball player, the world’s tallest Grateful Dead groupie, a philosopher, hyperbolic orator and comedian.
—Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 1 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for put on 
Verb
The house put on a slick, spectacular show under the Arabian stars and spared no expense.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 10 Feb. 2025
As trillions of dollars were suddenly put on hold, so was 80 percent of SOUL's budget for the next five years.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
The counterargument is that the persona is a put-on — that the real Vance is the guy who wanted the establishment to just be 15 percent less out of touch, and that if Trump exits the scene, that guy is the one who will actually govern.
—Megan McArdle, Washington Post, 15 July 2024
An artist on the court and a put-on artist off, Walton was an all-time great basketball player, the world’s tallest Grateful Dead groupie, a philosopher, hyperbolic orator and comedian.
—Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 1 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
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The seasonal adjustment process may be exaggerating January inflation, due to the lingering effects of earlier inflation surges on the adjustment process.—
Courtenay Brown,
Axios,
12 Feb. 2025
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Content creators exaggerate stakes to make their content urgent and existential.—
Mia Galuppo,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But that was just another mask, corporations and people pretending to care and understand justice, only for it to all be dropped the moment the next administration permitted them to.—
Richard Newby,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Feb. 2025
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The cyberattack involves a phishing scam where criminals pretend to be Best Buy Geek Squad employees.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The response was made all the more pronounced by Lively’s mock shock look at her husband.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2025
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Thomas leapt out of his judges’ chair and mock knelt in front of Carter.—
Marcus Thompson II,
The Athletic,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For more about how to tell generative AI to carry out a pretense, known as an AI persona, see my coverage at the link here.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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There were no pretenses and no judgments — a theme that resonated throughout the retreat.—
Colby Holiday,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The brand will collaborate with the long-running NBC sketch comedy show on a parody commercial spotlighting the benefits of the new hair care line.—
WWD Staff,
WWD,
13 Feb. 2025
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Dratch was the last in a group of five SNL alums to debut her Real Housewives tagline parody, spoofing the franchise's tradition of the housewives introducing themselves with a catty one-liner.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The 24-time Grammy-winning rapper hit the red carpet donning a black shirt and pants, sunglasses and a chain.—
Edward Segarra,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
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The viral video shows an AI rendering of the actress donning a T-shirt featuring a hand giving the middle finger.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Here are the best fake car ads and parodies celebrating SNL's 50th anniversary.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
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Read More: The 22 Most Controversial Saturday Night Live Moments Best Ad Break Over the show’s five decades, SNL has created ads for some memorably fake products.—
Melissa Locker,
TIME,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Michael’s sexuality has never been an issue, because Julia married him for a life of status and security, and is happy to keep up any facade necessary to maintain it.—
Mary Marge Locker,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2025
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The van drove us to a remote spot and deposited us near four Old West–style buildings, or rather facades of buildings.—
Chris Colin,
AFAR Media,
31 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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