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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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
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of put on
Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 4 Nov. 2024
However, that case was put on hold as the earlier lawsuit was being decided.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 May 2024
As Patrick lopes through the film intruding into people’s space with his strength and his shameless habit of stealing their snacks (and dropping his shorts), Guadagnino over-indulges in close-ups of O’Connor scrunching up his mouth in a put-on smirk.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for put on 
Verb
Some had put on legal clinics for work authorization and asylum applications.
—Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 4 Nov. 2024
However, that case was put on hold as the earlier lawsuit was being decided.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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
As Patrick lopes through the film intruding into people’s space with his strength and his shameless habit of stealing their snacks (and dropping his shorts), Guadagnino over-indulges in close-ups of O’Connor scrunching up his mouth in a put-on smirk.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
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The sapphire hues in the Voyager 2 mission photos were exaggerated by image processing to showcase the swirling cloud patterns more prominently.Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
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It's widely believed that Blanchard was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy; a rare form of abuse in which a guardian exaggerates or induces illness in a child for sympathy and attention.Becca Longmire, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Some staffers pretended to call on behalf of a depressed relative.Max Blau, ProPublica, 14 Nov. 2024
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Keeping your account also prevents anyone from taking your username (and maybe pretending to be you).David Nield, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Wear rubber gloves and clip a mangled licking branch (which holds the forehead and saliva scent of several bucks and does) from atop an active scrape and wire it over a mock scrape near your stand.Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
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Miller recently pitched a mock trade that would send Crochet to Philadelphia.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But in his youth lies the reason for anonymity and pretense, Hoback claims.Joel Khalili, WIRED, 22 Oct. 2024
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Liberals, apparently, got up close to voters under the pretense of handing out food and water.Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Jacob believed that the capitalization of common nouns was an inorganic import and did away with it, a choice that inspired parodies in the German press.Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
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Saturday Night Live recap: Host John Mulaney makes grand return with Chappell Roan and surprise guests To start, Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim sing a Lion King parody revealing that the carton is filled with possum milk.Shania Russell, EW.com, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In an October 23, 2020 Instagram post, Shah donned a structured corset-dress apparently made of Joe Biden signs.Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
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Serving up a triple threat of Pam’s ‘90s nostalgia, Bey donned three jaw-dropping looks made famous by Anderson.Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Striking a family pose, Cuoco wore a blue NFL jersey, fake beard and baseball cap, while Pelphrey sported a blonde wig, a pink Nike sweatshirt and white slides.Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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As voting got underway, the FBI warned that its name and insignia were being used in two fake news clips, including one that falsely claimed the FBI was urging people to vote remotely because of a terrorist threat.Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The big picture: The parking structure's new facade is the latest installation of the Art that Excites program that's curating 10 murals in public spaces around downtown Oceanside.Kate Murphy, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
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Albert Hotel feels both modern and luxe, but also authentically-minded, thanks to the limestone facades that echo the town’s 150-year-old historic buildings and culinary offerings that will celebrate local flavors.Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 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 21 Nov. 2024.
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