as in tools
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 figures
Noun
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Editing tools like Descript are also rushing into the growing market for digital clones.—
Taylor Lorenz,
Vanity Fair,
15 Apr. 2026 -
Each new Home Depot location includes a dedicated pro team, along with digital tools designed to streamline ordering.—
Alexandria Mansfield,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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They were used as pawns in completely unrelated political battles.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
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But, in the slammers investigation, nearly all the people being prosecuted were pawns—passengers who’d agreed to ride in cars.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Lay figures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figures. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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