1
as in to throw (on)
to place on one's person
I put on a coat and shoes to go outside
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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
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3
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of
put on a show of anger just for fun
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as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
a put-on goofy voice
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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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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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Recent Examples of put on
Colin Demarest, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
Last taking place in 2009 by lethal injection, the death penalty was put on pause in the Hoosier state because of a lawsuit and other complications that prevented officials from obtaining the mixture of drugs used in its lethal injection protocol.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 18 Dec. 2024
Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 1 June 2024
While broadly based in reality, the entire movie is a put-on, a wackazoid tall tale, a comedy that uses the breakfast wars as the jumping-off point for a high-camp exercise in nostalgic lunacy.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for put on 
Verb
Driving the news: Axios was given exclusive access to a counter-drone demo in rural Virginia put on by ZeroMark, a small defense company that wants to equip troops with smarter weaponry.
—Colin Demarest, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
Last taking place in 2009 by lethal injection, the death penalty was put on pause in the Hoosier state because of a lawsuit and other complications that prevented officials from obtaining the mixture of drugs used in its lethal injection protocol.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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
While broadly based in reality, the entire movie is a put-on, a wackazoid tall tale, a comedy that uses the breakfast wars as the jumping-off point for a high-camp exercise in nostalgic lunacy.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
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Or if not a mirage, then results exaggerated by expectations so low that anything good would've looked great.Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2024
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As is often the case, A.I. isn’t so much changing the game as exaggerating a dynamic already at work: good translation draws on as much of life and experience and personality as good writing does.Max Norman, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The high-flying spirit of the time is embodied in the film’s main character, Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio), a con man who pretends to be a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, traversing the country in the process.Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 24 Dec. 2024
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This group included Oh Il-nam (Oh Yeong-su), an older Korean man who pretended to be a contestant alongside Gi-hun and the others in Season 1.Kayti Burt, TIME, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The ancient tradition would be to hold sacrificial ceremonies, but today, people hold mock sacrifices to celebrate.Amanda Cappelli, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
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The long-sleeve gown featured a mock neck and ruching at the waist.Catherine Santino, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Under the pretense of protecting her family, Emilia sends her wife, Jessi (Gomez), and their children to Switzerland.Robert Lang, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024
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When Avril moves in with a woman, resorting for a while to the pretense of separate bedrooms, this upheaval in their lives is barely mentioned.Charles McGrath, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Keeping the multi-generational hit from reaching No. 1 is a parody song, though one with a very serious meaning.Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
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Along with the Usual Suspects and Newhart parodies mentioned above, there’s also a Rosemary’s Baby riff that brings the whole gang together to celebrate demonic new arrivals to the vampire family.Katie Rife, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Some of the older girls donned pants — which was prohibited growing up — while others opted for skirts.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
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Kelce donned a suit from the Tortured Poets Department skit, while Swift rocked a black dress with silver details.Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In 2017, then State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman indicted Newman on 58 counts, following a two-year investigation nicknamed Operation Vandelay Industries, a nod to George Costanza’s fake latex company on Seinfeld.Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 25 Dec. 2024
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Not a temporary tattoo or a fake one to trick people online.Amanda Rosa, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The round arches were repeated on the main facade around entrances and in the panel surrounding the stained glass rose window.Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
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That red brick facade and handsome shutters hold timeless charm, but the city condo has even more delights inside.Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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