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
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And Marcus Wheatland, known as the doctor of the swells, was a medical practitioner and a pioneer of X-rays as a diagnostic tool.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
8 July 2025 -
For many, this trend is both logical and necessary: the skill sets, tools and time required to defend against modern threats are out of reach for many lean internal teams.—
Nolan Garrett,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
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Anthony-Brown was fortunate to secure a lease in one of the neighborhood's most architecturally significant landmarks, the art deco-style Paramount Square Building, which opened in 1931 but has been vacant since its last tenant, a pawn shop, shuttered in 2005.—
Keith Pandolfi,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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The guitar would later turn up in a Las Vegas pawn shop.—
Melonee Hurt,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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“Lay figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figure. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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