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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay figure
Noun
  • Some shops with specific scan tools that have special programming functions can permanently shut off the start/stop system on certain vehicles.
    John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Electronic medical record tools that will summarize a patient’s hospital course for you.
    Natasha Chida, Time, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • With no end to the war in sight, inflation on the rise, fuel rationing and continued threats of strikes, the vast majority of the Iranian population appear not to be players, but pawns.
    Will Barker, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Paradise Pawn is based on her experiences working behind the counter of a pawn shop.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
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“Lay figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figure. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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