cat's-paw

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
Noun
  • The costume is meant to reflect the pawns in a game of chess.
    Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Detectives believe additional pawn shops may be involved, and anyone with information was encouraged to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office at 916-874-5115.
    Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That legislation, pending action from the governor, bans new data centers through November 2027 and creates a new state council to provide strategic input, facilitate planning considerations and evaluate policy tools to address data centers, Maine Morning Star reported.
    Kevin Hardy, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2026
  • For taller products, like full-size shampoo bottles or styling tools, Kinsella suggests a tiered sliding organizer with an open top to accommodate height.
    Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
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.

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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 26 Apr. 2026.

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