Synonyms of puppet

puppet

noun

ˈpə-pət 

1

as in doll

a small figure often of a human being used especially as a child's plaything

gave her a puppet with strings for a gift

Synonyms & Similar Words

• doll
• dolly
• poppet
• action figure
• marionette
• rag doll
• figurine
• handpuppet
• figure

2

as in pawn

one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another

accused the newspaper editor of being a puppet for the moneyed people of the town

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pawn
• tool
• minion
• victim
• sucker
• instrument
• lay figure
• cat's-paw
• foil
• stooge
• chump
• dupe
• gull
• yes-man
• lapdog

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of puppet

As the title suggests, Jim Henson’s puppets are front and center with Dorothy Gale (Ashanti), an aspiring singer who gets caught in a tornado after sharing her demo with the Muppets. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026

Instead of Larys pulling strings, Ormund is the puppet master. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

The Godfather with a puppet-master’s hand clutching a control bar that looks, ominously, like a cross. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026

Filmed during Covid, Vaught and Funk crammed themselves into a small bathroom to film a scene where a puppet bursts out of the toilet to throttle Vaught. — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026