pa·pier-mâ·ché
ˌpā-pər-mə-ˈshā 
ˌpa-ˌpyā-mə-,
-(ˌ)ma-
: a light strong molding material of wastepaper pulped with glue and other additives
1
: formed of papier-mâché
2
: unreal, artificial
Examples of papier-mâché in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
arkansasonline.com, 25 July 2024
For an extra special finishing touch, stick six papier-mache Supreme Court justices on it.
—Pat Beall, Orlando Sentinel, 21 July 2024
Attach ribbons to papier-mache gourds with hot-glue and suspend from a chandelier.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2023
Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2023
In the Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel, a swanky and exotic celebrity haunt, among papier-mache palm trees and monkey motifs.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023
Look for Roxanne Swentzell’s 11-foot-tall sculpture of clay and plant fiber, Mud Woman Rolls On and life-size papier-mache figures by masters of the Mexican cartonería tradition.
—Robin Soslow, Chron, 26 Feb. 2023
And don’t miss the bonecos, giant papier-mache puppets, in Olinda.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 19 Feb. 2023
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.
Noun
Among the protesters was a group of artists from Baltimore displaying a massive papier-mache sculpture meant to depict President Joe Biden with blood on his hands and devil horns.
—arkansasonline.com, 25 July 2024
For an extra special finishing touch, stick six papier-mache Supreme Court justices on it.
—Pat Beall, Orlando Sentinel, 21 July 2024
Attach ribbons to papier-mache gourds with hot-glue and suspend from a chandelier.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2023
Adjective
In other cities, activists held flash mobs, created street murals and a papier-mache orca, cut up credit cards, sang, marched and danced.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2023
In the Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel, a swanky and exotic celebrity haunt, among papier-mache palm trees and monkey motifs.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023
Look for Roxanne Swentzell’s 11-foot-tall sculpture of clay and plant fiber, Mud Woman Rolls On and life-size papier-mache figures by masters of the Mexican cartonería tradition.
—Robin Soslow, Chron, 26 Feb. 2023
And don’t miss the bonecos, giant papier-mache puppets, in Olinda.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 19 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Papier-mâché.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papier-m%C3%A2ch%C3%A9. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share