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lay figure

noun

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
  1. tool
  2. pawn
Noun
  • Brennan said 75 percent of bids in Christie’s luxury auctions now arrive through its online tools.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers found that the Windows branch could use PowerShell and other tools to eventually load malware directly into memory.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of tool
Noun
  • Ownership is not in bankruptcy, is contesting the foreclosure in court, has offered the lender any and every constructive solution, but will not allow these tenants to be further used as pawns.
    — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Lee was convicted of fatally shooting Jimmy Ellis, 53, and Elaine Thompson, 44, during a pawn shop holdup in 1998 in Orrville, about 60 miles west of Montgomery.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of pawn
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.

Browse Nearby Words

lay eyes on
lay figure
lay figures
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lay figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figure. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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