Definition of marionette
: a small-scale usually wooden figure (as of a person) with jointed limbs that is moved from above by manipulation of the attached strings or wires
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of marionette from the Web
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After cleansing, apply Nightly Lip Treatment generously around the lip area, focusing on marionette and feather lines, and massage into skin.
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Slip into a green chair pondside, go jogging, play tennis or basketball, sail a toy sailboat, or take in a chess game or marionette show.
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The Senate’s nearly unanimous support for the measure should send Putin a clear message: The American electoral system cannot be treated as a mere marionette in Russia’s global cyberwarfare puppet show.
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The place of women artists in the days for which Marcotte seems nostalgic was to be the marionettes for powerful (and usually male) producers and songwriters.
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The festival also will have dance performances, marionette shows and Mexican food.
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Sean Spicer, half-man, half-marionette, spent a lot of time at his Tuesday briefing trying to paint Yates, who was appointed by George H.W. Bush at the suggestion of hilarious Clinton ur-critic Bob Barr, as an Obama administration mole.
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Cooper came up with the idea to display the two female characters as marionettes, being toyed with by a studio executive smoking a cigar.
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A typical suspension bridge dangles from cables, like a marionette from strings.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'marionette.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of marionette
French marionnette, from Middle French maryonete, from Marion, diminutive of Marie Mary
MARIONETTE Defined for English Language Learners
marionette
playDefinition of marionette for English Language Learners
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: a puppet that is moved by pulling strings or wires that are attached to its body
MARIONETTE Defined for Kids
marionette
playDefinition of marionette for Students
: a puppet moved by attached strings
Learn More about marionette
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See words that rhyme with marionette Spanish Central: Translation of marionette Nglish: Translation of marionette for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about marionette
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