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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay figures
Noun
  • New tools became available in the early 2020s that weren't available at the time of the original shooting.
    — CBS Minnesota, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Most students likely already have access to AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.
    — Christian M. Jacobs, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Youth used as pawns, BJP says The cockroach movement has emerged as one of the biggest political challenges faced by Modi and his BJP in his 12 years in power.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Career public servants are people, not pawns, and no one who has devoted their life to serving the American public should have their good name destroyed for partisan, political gain.
    — Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2026
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“Lay figures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figures. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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