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
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of put on
Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
Last step in your makeup or skincare routine Cleaning the face and putting on the foundation and then putting on the makeup.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 5 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
All of this is happening just as the danger raw milk poses could skyrocket thanks to bird flu, the very reason Raw Farm was put on ice.
—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.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for put on
Verb
-
That assumption has led some health-care providers to exaggerate the addictive risk of drugs such as Valium and Klonopin, which are used to treat anxiety, among other things.Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 29 Nov. 2024
-
But critics say focusing nearly exclusively on recycling exaggerates the effect that can have and distracts from more fundamental solutions to plastic pollution.Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
In it, Stephanie pretends to drive Uncle Joey's brand new car, but manages to accidentally throw it into reverse, crashing it through the Tanner family’s kitchen wall.Jen Juneau, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
-
No one can pretend that experience adequately prepares for a tough relegation battle in a far harder league.Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
There will also be humor: The backside of the outer packaging is called The Daily Dump, a mock newspaper.Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 19 Nov. 2024
-
Trump won 62% of the university’s mock vote at Flagler College and won the vote by 10% at the University of North Florida.Pedro Boccalato Rodriguez Aparicio, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Gianfranco was every inch the grand seigneur but without the pretense.John Mariani, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
-
Six rounds into the eight-round match—which ended in a unanimous decision for Paul—the commentator Rosie Perez, a longtime friend of Tyson’s, dropped any pretense of being entertained.Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
There are few movies as quotable as the 1980 disaster-movie parody Airplane!Abraham Josephine Riesman, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
-
Though originally intended as a slasher parody, the movie ultimately became a straight horror movie, garnered a cult following and inspired several sequels and spin-offs.Zoe G. Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The exes — who share kids Violet Anne, 18, Seraphina Rose, 15, and Samuel, 12, together — donned matching Midnight Mission aprons in the snap.Becca Longmire, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024
-
The film went on to land an Oscar nomination for Robert Downey Jr. in the Best Supporting Actor category; Downey played a Method actor who dons Blackface to portray a Vietnam War soldier.Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The agency must also root out fake art that’s illegally marked as made by an Indian artist.Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024
-
For spooky season, Cuoco and Pelphrey hilariously dressed up as each other, with the actress wearing a blue NFL jersey, fake beard and baseball cap, as Matilda sported a rainbow unicorn costume.Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The glittering glass-and-metal facades of Greenwich’s Porsche and Mercedes dealerships sit across the street, and Miller Motorcars is down the block.Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Nov. 2024
-
Hieroglyphic texts were also found along the exterior facade of the pylon.Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 26 Nov. 2024
Articles Related to put on
Thesaurus Entries Near put on
Cite this Entry
“Put on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put%20on. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share