1
as in dolls
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
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2
as in pawns
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puppets
With this new production comes brand new puppets, unique characters, new music, and newfound joy.
—
Erica Olsen, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
The animals are portrayed by puppets wielded by Magill and Anastasia Muñoz, who serves as the production’s movement director.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Her life’s work was stolen early Monday when thieves swiped a shipping box containing many of her puppets from outside her Beachwood Canyon apartment.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The cast is immensely talented and complemented by stunning set design and state-of-the-art puppets.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
There are bodily fluids, jeering crowds, and demonic Punch and Judy puppets applauding through the chaos, giving the scene the air of a demented fairy tale.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
Kids get to climb aboard the neighborhood trolley, play dress-up, and put on a show with puppets in the Island of Make-Believe.
—Elena Donovan Mauer, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
Sort of classic bad, if that makes any sense, rather than modern bad…We’re casting the net to find just the right bad for us that fits with the puppets, rather than the three of us and our voices.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
The kids are sure to love the life-size puppets and jamming tunes.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Feb. 2026
Erica Olsen, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
The animals are portrayed by puppets wielded by Magill and Anastasia Muñoz, who serves as the production’s movement director.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Her life’s work was stolen early Monday when thieves swiped a shipping box containing many of her puppets from outside her Beachwood Canyon apartment.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The cast is immensely talented and complemented by stunning set design and state-of-the-art puppets.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
There are bodily fluids, jeering crowds, and demonic Punch and Judy puppets applauding through the chaos, giving the scene the air of a demented fairy tale.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
Kids get to climb aboard the neighborhood trolley, play dress-up, and put on a show with puppets in the Island of Make-Believe.
—Elena Donovan Mauer, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
Sort of classic bad, if that makes any sense, rather than modern bad…We’re casting the net to find just the right bad for us that fits with the puppets, rather than the three of us and our voices.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
The kids are sure to love the life-size puppets and jamming tunes.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puppets
Noun
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David Allen Funston cruised Sacramento-area streets during a 1995 crime spree, luring children into his car with toys, dolls and sweets.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The kitchen table was stacked with Labubu dolls.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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They were treated like pawns in a JEA chess game, played and discarded.—
Mark Woods,
Florida Times-Union,
20 Feb. 2026
-
During that period, NYC received 220,000 migrants — because the Republican governor of Texas wanted to cruelly use them as political pawns by sending them here.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
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Most carts, dollies, and internal transport tools are discarded simply because a single part failed or the workflow changed.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Giving families tools to improve reading at home Before Juri Sleet completed her literacy screening at age 3, her grandmother, Quintina Davis, worried Juri didn’t have enough opportunities for early learning.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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Earlier Wednesday, Ellison held a news conference to promote legislation that would give his office more staff and new legal tools to combat Medicaid fraud.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puppets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puppets. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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