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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According to the firm, portable counter-UAV solutions, such as laser dazzlers, are seen as promising tools for protecting military forces and critical infrastructure.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026 -
This may stop Grammarly from reintroducing the feature or similar tools in the future.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The play unfolds as a series of battles, where the unaccomplished George and the bitterly disappointed Martha exchange vicious and demeaning insults, using Nick and Honey as the unsuspecting pawns in their war for supremacy.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
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They were treated like pawns in a JEA chess game, played and discarded.—
Mark Woods,
Florida Times-Union,
20 Feb. 2026
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“Lay figures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figures. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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