marionettes

noun

plural of marionette
as in dolls
a puppet that is moved by pulling strings or wires that are attached to its body

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of marionettes The collections explore themes such as immigration and feminism while showcasing the many forms puppetry can take, from marionettes and hand puppets to shadow theater. — Tran Chau, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026 This is a variety show with marionettes that sing, dance, dazzle and delight people of all ages. — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 Platform algorithms have evolved to jerk our emotions around like marionettes. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026 The 1960 series Supercar marked the debut of supermarionation, an electronic system that makes marionettes more lifelike and convincing on screen. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 9 July 2026 Sid spent much of the 1950s touring his marionettes in Europe and even appeared with Judy Garland as her opening act during the latter part of the decade. — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026 Soon after, making marionettes entered the picture. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026 Natalie Haynes fleshes out the backstories of her cast—Jason, a handsome ship captain on a quest for the Golden Fleece, the scheming sorceress Medea, and Olympian deities toying with mortals like marionettes—and imbues them all with contemporary vibes. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 3 Mar. 2026 This snowy themed show, which features about 100 marionettes, includes sledding slopes, caroling penguins and Santa’s workshop. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for marionettes
  1. dolls
  2. dollies
  3. figurines
  4. figures
Noun
  • The auction features Pee-wee’s iconic gray suit and other costumes, red Schwinn bicycles, dolls, puppets, claymation figures, scripts and more.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • For much of her early life, that single question was the most precious gift Laura had ever been given—more cherished than her Barbies or her Baby Alive or her Sunshine family dolls.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of dolls
Noun
  • The 750-ton building was placed onto 20 dollies and moved onto city property where it was ultimately restored and opened as a museum and events venue.
    — Camila Gomez, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Each band’s gear had been set up on dollies and risers, secured under forty-foot-long tents.
    — Alex Abramovich, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Definition of dollies
Noun
  • Before the pandemic, the company overestimated demand, picked the wrong characters and made too many figurines, said Gerrick Johnson, senior research analyst at Seaport Research Partners, which has a buy rating on Funko.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • But the fun doesn’t stop with figurines—the calendar also includes moldable sand and molds to make snowballs and snowflakes, plus pop-out play pieces like a festive tree and a sled to soar across the frozen landscape.
    — Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of figurines
Noun
  • And members of these new churches were mostly not the black-dressed, hypocritical, sour-faced, monocultural figures favored by popular narrative, but often included colorful figures who were sometimes surprisingly modern in their desires.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Prominent appointments have gone to figures such as Jason Reding Quiñones, a prosecutor who reportedly received low scores on performance evaluations while working at the Southern District of Florida.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of figures

Browse Nearby Words

marionette
marionettes
marital
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Cite this Entry

“Marionettes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/marionettes. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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