marionette
noun
mar·i·o·nette
ˌmer-ē-ə-ˈnet 
: 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
Examples of marionette in a Sentence
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In telling after telling, Dorothy is presented as the docile marionette of whatever man’s pulling her strings at the moment.
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Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Both characters become haunting part-marionette, part-human hybrids in the process (described aptly as the Lisaonette and the Abbionette by Adams), their limbs lengthening and eyes glowing.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025
Several new characters from the games — chief among them, a gigantic marionette with a deeply unnerving face — carry just enough interest to sustain your attention for roughly half the feature.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, a team of flat-out-astounding camera-handlers and stagehands flurried around her like puppeteers around a hypercomplex marionette, turning an almost-empty stage into a Technicolor whirlwind of character and story.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
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Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Both characters become haunting part-marionette, part-human hybrids in the process (described aptly as the Lisaonette and the Abbionette by Adams), their limbs lengthening and eyes glowing.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025
Several new characters from the games — chief among them, a gigantic marionette with a deeply unnerving face — carry just enough interest to sustain your attention for roughly half the feature.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, a team of flat-out-astounding camera-handlers and stagehands flurried around her like puppeteers around a hypercomplex marionette, turning an almost-empty stage into a Technicolor whirlwind of character and story.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marionette
Cite this Entry
“Marionette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marionette. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
marionette
noun
mar·i·o·nette
ˌmar-ē-ə-ˈnet
ˌmer-
: a puppet moved by attached strings or wires
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