lay figures

plural of lay figure
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
  • Many students rely on social media platforms to access online classes, research materials and collaborative learning tools.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
  • By transforming consumer devices into medical monitoring tools, gaps could be bridged in health care by providing continuous oversight.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Missing pawns, cracked hourglass timers, and flimsy boxes have a way of sneaking up on you.
    Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
  • We’re being used as pawns in a much bigger chess game here.
    Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
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“Lay figures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figures. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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