as in sucker
one who is easily deceived or cheated
an Internet newbie who's the perfect patsy for a cyber scam
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Example Sentences
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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
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Democratic states have typically done this, but now that’s a sucker’s game.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
15 May 2026
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That makes students who play by the rules feel like suckers.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Employing a cast of non-professional locals, the film playfully interrogates the brutal but bungled occupation while also allowing its actors — many of whom are descendants of the fascists’ victims — to reinterpret and reclaim a chapter in their city’s past.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Not the only victim The Miami-Dade case is not the only time Readon has been accused by investigators of defrauding homeowners.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The proposal also requires Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the month-long period – arguably one of Iran’s strongest tools of leverage against the United States in the ongoing war.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
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Gray stone, wooden beams, iron tools.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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 17 May. 2026.
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