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
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
The blame for the accident is put on Carolyn, for being late, rather than on John for flying at night despite insufficient training.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Talie Smith, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
With access to troves of archival footage, Braverman shows Kaufman transforming the very nature of comedy by launching the put-on into existential extremes.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Verb
Heat rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis put on a dunking show during the workout, leaving his coaches and teammates in shock.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
The blame for the accident is put on Carolyn, for being late, rather than on John for flying at night despite insufficient training.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The most earnest-sounding campaign can feel like a put-on.
—Talie Smith, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
With access to troves of archival footage, Braverman shows Kaufman transforming the very nature of comedy by launching the put-on into existential extremes.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
-
Slightly shimmering effects reflect light in a subtle way, bringing luminosity without being exaggerated; it can be glazed donut–style chrome, or for a more intense effect try a cat-eye finish.—
Andrea Carbajal,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Bosco’s attorneys argue Shaw was exaggerating the situation.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Thus ensnared in a fiction of his making, the narrator takes his phone out and pretends to press Record.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
And in Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Hurt played one of the New York socialites who falls into the web of deceit created by a charismatic young man (Will Smith) pretending to be the son of Sidney Poitier.—
Chris Koseluk,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In his new mock draft, Miller has the Bills picking up a key weapon.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In addition to the original trunk and items on display, the Center for Sacramento History and the history museum created a mock trunk inspired by the original for school programs throughout the region.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Maybe the pretense was comforting to him, too.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
As architectural fashion has shifted, the software is no longer associated with complex geometry, and the pretense that digital tools might liberate architects—spurring them to new heights of creativity—has faded.—
Julian Rose,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The request and combination were so offbeat that both artists agreed to take part, quickly, and the band took over writing duties after Frito-Lay staffers first tried their own hand at a parody of their 2001 tune.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
-
In the latest pack, launching April 23, Owlchemy Labs takes players to Sporelando, which is parody of the Florida city Orlando.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The exterior portion of a $1 billion revamp of the more than 30-year-old Honda Center broke ground Thursday, March 26, with city and community leaders donning orange vests and wielding shovels to celebrate.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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Evening Sunset is a great time for a stroll around Hanoi’s West Lake, a popular backdrop for locals who don their finest outfits and come here to snap selfies.—
Tamara Hinson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While people sometimes express this view in jest, others believe the fake environment borders on a cultural abomination.—
Adam Kadlac,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
-
With the Heat’s social media team posting a video of the dunks, Jakucionis joked that the video is fake.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Set the scene At a cobblestoned intersection in the Tribeca North Historic District, an industrialist red brick facade gives way to eight floors of ethereal Art Deco interior design straight out of the South of France.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
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Future plans include repurposing the building’s former drive-thru lane into an outdoor cafe and adding new jellyfish murals to its front facade.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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