FIGUREHEAD Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

figurehead

noun

Definition of figurehead

as in puppet

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

colossus

as in leader

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of figurehead Some very famous people act as figurehead team principals and owners. — James Morris, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 Prior to becoming the figurehead for the supergroup of musicians that are Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Lati left his mark on the dancefloor. — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 9 June 2026 In recent years, Ben Gibbard, one of indie rock’s prevailing figureheads, has unwittingly endured all three. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 June 2026 The danger is that such a figurehead would lack legitimacy. — Niall Stanage, The Hill, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for figurehead

Recent Examples of Synonyms for figurehead

Noun

The puppet show was saved, according to Tremaine, in the editing room.

— Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Pre-movie activities include plant puppet-making and carnivorous plant trivia.

— Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of puppet

Noun

The Burbank airport’s site in the San Fernando Valley, however, has often put its leaders at odds with residents of surrounding suburban neighborhoods.

— Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
On Monday night, a group of residents and community leaders, including City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, met with Lineage officials to discuss their concerns stemming from the fire.

— City News Service, Daily News, 8 July 2026

Definition of leader

Noun

Corlys orders his men to thread the rocky Dragonstone pass at low tide, even relieving the helmsman of the ship’s wheel at the crucial moment.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026
During the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Sofia’s brother, the late King Constantine II of Greece, won a gold medal as helmsman of the boat Nereus in Gulf of Naples.

— Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 5 Feb. 2026

Definition of helmsman

Noun

The 1960 series Supercar marked the debut of supermarionation, an electronic system that makes marionettes more lifelike and convincing on screen.

— Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 9 July 2026
About 146 groups, made up of more than 1,400 participants, marched in the parade, with projects ranging from larger-than-life marionette dolls to squads of children in do-it-yourself costumes to mobile re-creations of LACMA’s most iconic art pieces.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026

Definition of marionette

Noun

Tech chiefs, including crypto company Coinbase's Brian Armstrong and AI startup Lindy's Flo Crivello, have been publicly touting the use of models from China to reduce costs.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 8 July 2026
The police chief allegedly extorted the victim and the victim’s father in connection with the pending murder case.

— Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of chief

Noun

After belting the song, England captain Harry Kane barely managed to get through a post-match interview with his totally shattered voice.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2026
On March 30, 2026, a French court sentenced the Chinese captain in absentia to one year in prison and issued an arrest warrant after convicting him of failing to comply with orders to stop his ship.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026

Definition of captain

Browse Nearby Words

figured out

figurehead

figureheads

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Figurehead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figurehead. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of figurehead

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on figurehead

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

implacable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes