cat's-paw

noun

ˈkats-ˌpȯ How to pronounce cat's-paw (audio)
Definition of cat's-pawnext
as in pawn
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another these changes to the zoning laws have only confirmed for many that the town council has become the cat's-paw of local real estate developers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cat's-paw
  1. pawn
  2. tool
Noun
  • Paradise Pawn is based on her experiences working behind the counter of a pawn shop.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • The process feels like a private atelier appointment rather than traditional banking or a pawn shop experience.
    — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of pawn
Noun
  • For two decades she's turned the science of human behavior into practical tools that help people communicate with confidence.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Recent incidents expose critical security risks with autonomous AI agents, which act unsupervised using credentials and tools.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of tool
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.

Browse Nearby Words

cat's meow
cat's-paw
cat's-paws
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Cite this Entry

“Cat's-paw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cat%27s-paw. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cat's-paw

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