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
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Weeks of checking pawn shops and posting reward signs went nowhere.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025 -
Missing pawns, cracked hourglass timers, and flimsy boxes have a way of sneaking up on you.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In a 2004 study, the United States Institute of Peace said that hundreds of terrorist groups had migrated online, utilizing a tool meant for better communication for often nefarious purposes.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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Meeting these expectations has put real strain on automotive retail, challenging dealers to know when to rely on intelligent tools—and when to step in with human expertise.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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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 15 Sep. 2025.
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