as in sucker
one who is easily deceived or cheated
an Internet newbie who's the perfect patsy for a cyber scam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 patsy
The same prime minister who exaggerates his power is also fine with being portrayed as the patsy of more influential actors.
—
Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Gwen champions Chelsea for advocating for her needs, but Gwen’s obviously the patsy here, running to turn up the thermostat the second Chelsea asks.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Slightly, meanwhile, targets Joe as his patsy to smuggle a Xenomorph embryo out of Prodigy, still resentful that Wendy’s family is here safely while his mother is far away and being threatened by Morrow.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
He was often portrayed as a DOGE patsy, perhaps even a fool.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patsy
Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Gwen champions Chelsea for advocating for her needs, but Gwen’s obviously the patsy here, running to turn up the thermostat the second Chelsea asks.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Slightly, meanwhile, targets Joe as his patsy to smuggle a Xenomorph embryo out of Prodigy, still resentful that Wendy’s family is here safely while his mother is far away and being threatened by Morrow.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
He was often portrayed as a DOGE patsy, perhaps even a fool.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patsy
Noun
-
Keep in mind that trumpet vines can become invasive by self-seeding and sending up suckers, so allocate ample space.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Snip upright suckers and water sprouts that zap the tree’s energy.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
An Urban Pathways spokeswoman expressed condolences to the victims and their families in a statement.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
Officials said that after Cooper’s arrest, the first victim, a runaway, was crying hysterically and denied any involvement in prostitution.—
Samantha Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
After Anthropic’s success in attracting business users, OpenAI is beefing up its Codex coding agent and other work tools.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
State leaders should look beyond land use and taxation as tools for lowering prices.—
Maxwell Harden,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Maybe the Trumps are right and my family boasts a lot of chumps, sending six men off to World War II alone.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Miller has always taken the American people for brainless, heartless chumps lost in a swamp of nostalgia who’ll believe whatever Trumpworld tells them to.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patsy. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
