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

• 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

These directives could be conveyed to AGI and ASI without anyone else knowing that the AI maker is pulling the puppet strings underlying AGI and ASI. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025

In fact, just last season several Raiders players mocked Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes with a Kermit the frog puppet with his signature curly hair and dressed in his No. 15 jersey (many have said Mahomes sounds like Kermit over the years). —Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025

Your husband’s anxiety just makes her puppet strings easier to pull. —Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 5 July 2025

The trio are set to appear in the next season of iconic puppet comedy Spitting Image, which is embracing the world of YouTube vodcasts. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 July 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