variants
or less commonly lap dog
plural lapdogs also lap dogs
1
: a small dog (such as a Chihuahua or Pomeranian) that may be held in the lap
2
: a servile dependent or follower
"We had a choice of being attack dogs or lapdogs," said a G.O.P. lawmaker.—
Jacob V. Lamar
Jacob V. Lamarlap dog politicians
Examples of lapdog in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump—through his lapdog chair of the FCC—is creating the fear & intimidation that serves an instrument of authoritarian power.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
History is strewn with the wreckage of dictatorships that have attracted and promoted incompetent lapdogs lacking talent or integrity.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 21 Aug. 2025
When Surviving Ohio State was announced, anticipation hinged on the participation of producer George Clooney and the possibility that exploring the abuses of Dr. Richard Strauss and alleged negligence by authority figures at Ohio State might topple Jim Jordan, Ohio Congressman and Trump lapdog.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025
Pictured above: Clearly fearing a humiliating red-carpet banning under the edict, one agile opening-nighter executed the swift reduction in volume and had the lapdog bear the train.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapdog
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James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
History is strewn with the wreckage of dictatorships that have attracted and promoted incompetent lapdogs lacking talent or integrity.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 21 Aug. 2025
When Surviving Ohio State was announced, anticipation hinged on the participation of producer George Clooney and the possibility that exploring the abuses of Dr. Richard Strauss and alleged negligence by authority figures at Ohio State might topple Jim Jordan, Ohio Congressman and Trump lapdog.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025
Pictured above: Clearly fearing a humiliating red-carpet banning under the edict, one agile opening-nighter executed the swift reduction in volume and had the lapdog bear the train.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapdog
Cite this Entry
“Lapdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapdog. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lapdog
noun
lap·dog
ˈlap-ˌdȯg 
: a dog small enough to be held in the lap
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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