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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of put on
Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Abramowitz was appointed by the broadcast agency’s board during the Biden administration; he was also put on leave.
—Al Pessin, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for put on
Verb
Meanwhile, after a restraining order was put on the Trump administration’s firings, CISA is having to re-hire any probationary staff laid off after January 20.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Abramowitz was appointed by the broadcast agency’s board during the Biden administration; he was also put on leave.
—Al Pessin, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
In the end, as Reno and the reader may have sensed all along, her detachment is just another performance, a cool-girl put-on not so different from Rachel K’s burlesque.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
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Some, however, are on the fence, believing that schools are exaggerating the impact of food deliveries and that this is simply a generational thing.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Our minds tend to exaggerate the significance of small events.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In most fields workers are prone to deny a problem and even pretend to enjoy the abuse.—
James L. Edwards III,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
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Common scams to watch out for Phone scams: Fraudsters call pretending to be IRS agents and demand immediate payment for fake tax debts.—
Roxanne Doxx,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Starship reached nearly 90 miles in altitude before trouble struck and before four mock satellites could be deployed.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
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The space-skimming flight was supposed to last an hour and couldn’t release the mock satellites into space as planned.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Lottie’s wellness cult is no more, although an incriminating video tape gives the adults at least some pretense of narrative tension.—
Abby Monteil,
Them,
13 Mar. 2025
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During this and other trials, Chase abandoned all pretense of impartiality, openly siding with federal prosecutors.—
Marianne Holdzkom,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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During the March 8 episode of the late-night comedy sketch series, which saw Lady Gaga pull double duty as the host and the musical guest, Myers, 61, reprised his parody of the Tesla CEO during the show's Cold Open, after doing the same last weekend.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
9 Mar. 2025
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Next up, a Midnight Matinee, one of the digital shorts written by Dan Bulla, seemingly a Stuart Little-style parody where Gaga once again sings, this time at the piano.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
After four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Najee Harris will don a new uniform in 2025 following a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, a team source confirmed.—
Daniel Popper,
The Athletic,
10 Mar. 2025
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Nevertheless, Landau’s concept required Menzel and her co-stars to don harnesses and ascend Stella, to dance while climbing, and–in Menzel’s case–to belt while suspended upside-down in the air.—
Luna Adler,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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North Korean group Famous Chollima created fake LinkedIn profiles and used AI for job interviews to land positions at tech companies.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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However, the boom in AI image generation and the availability of photo editing software mean that fake images are easier to create than ever.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Outline natural stone Johnston adds visual interest to a neutral facade.—
Kathryn O'Shea-Evans,
Architectural Digest,
11 Mar. 2025
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Unfortunately, this page, which mirrored the company’s reset page, was a facade set up by cybercriminals.—
Maxwell Alles,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to put on
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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