lay figures

Definition of lay figuresnext
plural of lay figure
as in tools
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another the novel's characters are not fully fleshed humans, but are simply lay figures strutted out to serve as mouthpieces for conflicting points of view

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay figures
Noun
  • This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
  • New tools like mixed reality technologies and spatial computing might offer a way for the biennial form to mutate, in response to our own age, rather than die.
    Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • His desire to cross pawns again.
    Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Our job is to educate those people about how they’re being pushed around like pawns.
    Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
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“Lay figures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figures. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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