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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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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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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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
Mckenzie Rankin, Axios, 3 Jan. 2025
While certain essential government functions would continue, federal employees would be put on unpaid furlough and the shutdown could affect other Americans by impacting the Social Security Administration and federal food assistance programs like SNAP.
—Aila Slisco, Newsweek, 19 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
Here are some of January's biggest events to put on your calendar.
—Mckenzie Rankin, Axios, 3 Jan. 2025
While certain essential government functions would continue, federal employees would be put on unpaid furlough and the shutdown could affect other Americans by impacting the Social Security Administration and federal food assistance programs like SNAP.
—Aila Slisco, Newsweek, 19 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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Many progressive groups grossly exaggerate problems as an argument for federalizing national elections or to use as a fundraising tool.Karlyn Bowman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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The book generated a backlash among Israel’s supporters, and he was accused of exaggerating the situation and misstating some facts.Peter Baker, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Jordan Binnington can pretend to want to fight all three American goalies at the same time.Sean McIndoe, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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No pretending to read I, Seamus Heaney, no Skyping with pretendfriend.com.Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Most current mock drafts have Shedeur landing somewhere in the top three picks, which makes sense considering there are a ton of quarterback-needy teams.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
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But the upper stage will do something new on Flight 7, deploying 10 mock satellites — inactive versions of SpaceX's Starlink broadband craft — which will follow Ship's suborbital trajectory and splash down in the Indian Ocean as well.Mike Wall, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In the most recent suit, filed Dec. 27 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, former patients accuse Brock of groping their breasts and genitals unnecessarily under the pretense of legitimate medical examinations.Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
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Both Loughlin and Giannulli, 57, pleaded guilty last May to paying $500,000 in bribes to get Olivia Jade and Isabella fraudulently admitted to the University of Southern California on the pretense of being recruits for the school’s rowing team.Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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There are so many fascinating takes in this film, including their views on religion and SNL (the parodies bothered them because they were never invited on the show).Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2025
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The history of legitimately funny musical acts that are not parodies is a short.Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Farrell, 48, who dons a suit and prosthetic makeup for the franchise, has been vocal about his love for the character and his willingness to return for another season.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
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Seated beside the President-elect, who donned a dark suit and royal blue tie, Melania Trump appeared noticeably solemn.Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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While fake kidnapping calls aimed at exploiting worried parents are a familiar tactic for some criminals, advancements in technology are making these scams far more convincing and harder to detect.Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
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Fraudsters have devised sophisticated registration bots to mimic real users, coded to flood companies’ systems with fake OTPs.Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The city Department of Buildings has a stop work order on the apartment building following a 2019 violation in which debris was found falling from the facade, according to city records.Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2025
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But after that, sure enough, fun highlights, including the tippy top of the loop and superfast glimpse of Universal CityWalk, the busting through the New York facade, surfing above the queue and doubling back dramatically to the loading station.Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 8 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 Jan. 2025.
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