puppet

noun

pup·​pet ˈpə-pət 

often attributive

1

a

: a small-scale figure (as of a person or animal) usually with a cloth body and hollow head that fits over and is moved by the hand

b

: marionette

2

: doll sense 1

3

: one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence

a puppet ruler

puppetlike

ˈpə-pət-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms of puppet

• doll

Examples of puppet in a Sentence

a dictator who was perceived as being an American puppet

gave her a puppet with strings for a gift

Recent Examples on the Web

Accompanying Rayner through these daily adventures were the irritable duck Chelveston (named after his English bomber base) and the gentle dog puppet Cuddly Dudley. —Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026

Today's listen This year, the NPR Music team published 115 Tiny Desk concerts featuring a diverse range of artists, including rap and rock legends, Broadway musicals and even puppets. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025

The incident that led to his firing involved a scene in which Chase’s character Pierce Hawthorne performs a puppet show in which the hand puppet character performs in blackface. —Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025

The puppets' comedic banter represents different classes of the country. —Engin Kadaster, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English popet youth, doll, from Middle French poupette, diminutive of *poupe doll, from Vulgar Latin *puppa, alteration of Latin pupa

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing puppet

• glove puppet
• hand puppet
• puppet regime
• sock puppet

Kids Definition

puppet

noun

pup·​pet ˈpəp-ət 

1

: a doll moved by hand or by strings or wires

2

: doll sense 1

3

: a person or a government whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence