lay figure

as in tool
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 figure
Noun
  • Having a familiar presence like Joan at Westside Hospital is a helpful tool for Amy, who’s still rebuilding her life after the season 1 car crash that left her with a traumatic brain injury, wiping her memories of the previous eight years.
    Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Movies That Don’t Exist, a native digital format created and directed by Hernández, where AI becomes an experimental tool that amplifies creativity and connects with audiences through his YouTube channel, with over 3 million subscribers.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Rick Harrison's popular Las Vegas pawn shop displays rare finds and historical artifacts, attracting 1,200 daily visitors.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Declaring war on our nation’s cities and using our troops as political pawns is what dictators do.
    Brian Bennett, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
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

“Lay figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figure. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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