lay figure

Definition of lay figurenext
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
  • The awards and their accompanying speeches are the best promotional tools potential winners have in their arsenal, especially in an era when Broadway economics have gotten crazier by the year.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 June 2026
  • The tool, which uses artificial intelligence, could be deployed at airports to bolster wildlife enforcement efforts, the researchers say.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 7 June 2026
Noun
  • This undated photo provided by the Alabama Department of Corrections on Thursday, June 11, 2026, shows Jeffery Lee, who was sentenced to death for killing two people during a 1998 robbery at a pawn shop.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 June 2026
  • Authorities raided the pawn shop on Monday.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
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Cite this Entry

“Lay figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figure. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

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