lapdog

noun

Definition of lapdognext
1
as in yes-man

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2
as in puppy

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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 lapdog These can be summarized as a debate about whether the media are watchdogs, aggressively scrutinizing government officials, or lapdogs, mostly colluding with or manipulated by them. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026 In a sane world, Congress would put a stop to it and reassert its own power to regulate import duties; unfortunately, this particular GOP Congress seems content enough to be a lapdog watching Trump usurp them and damage the economy and our international standing. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026 The company’s founder and CEO, Tom Stevens, says the idea to create the robotic lapdog came from his mother, who had to give up her real dog after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. — Rena Goldman, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Jan. 2026 The ultimate souvenir for visitors to Yellowstone National Park early that summer was a closeup of Sylvia, a 225-pound grizzly bear, and her trio of cubs, each of whom was no larger than a lapdog. — JSTOR Daily, 19 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lapdog
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapdog
  1. yes-man
  2. puppy
  3. stooge
  4. pup
  5. minion
  6. whelp
  7. watchdog
Noun
  • Surrounding yourself with a bunch of yes-men is not a recipe for success—at least according to AT&T CEO John Stankey.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • His most loyal aides, yes-man/bestie Tre (Chris Williams) and assistant Kym (Kym Whitley), are ones who’ve been with him for ages.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of yes-man
Noun
  • Only the prolonged application of his best puppy-dog eyes and an earnest threat of self-harm softens up the old girl, but with caveats.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • James Bowshier and his wife walked into their local animal shelter to look at a puppy but another dog caught their attention.
    — Sydney Page, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of puppy
Noun
  • Miller’s depiction of Batman’s world featured then-president Ronald Reagan in a critical light, with Superman as his stooge.
    — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The unlikely source is Enervate’s company stooge corporate strategist, Ken Davies (Tim Key), a moron by any measure.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of stooge
Noun
  • That extra piece of siding near the entrance helps prevent wind and rain from entering the dog house, keeping your pup dry and warm in the winter.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Salsa was rescued once as a pup during an Unprecedented Mortality Event, released in 2015, re-stranded due to a fishing entanglement and deemed non-releasable by the federal government.
    — Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of pup
Noun
  • Dozens and dozens of Trump minions parroted the same line for days — how dare Obama mock such a beloved American eatery?
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Gavin Newsom’s legislative minions just got a lesson in constitutional supremacy.
    — , FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of minion
Noun
  • Unlikely Meathead, a whelp who spoke from a position of occasionally whiny, frequently wet-behind-the-ears insulation from life’s realities, Reiner had gray in his beard and a lengthy track record of using his podium for good.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Definition of whelp
Noun
  • Galvin’s public records division is a joke — a watchdog with no teeth.
    — Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Another person familiar with Democrats' oversight plans, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told CNBC the strategy is to aggressively target business while also taking a more traditional watchdog role of the executive branch.
    — Justin Papp,Garrett Downs,Megan Cassella, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of watchdog

Browse Nearby Words

lap
lapdog
lap dogs
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Cite this Entry

“Lapdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapdog. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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