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
A number of the puppets featured in Fraggle Rock — like Uncle Traveling Matt and Doozer — are also up for auction, with each estimated to fetch at least $40,000.
—
Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Chaos reigns in the studio as ballerinas, toy soldiers, and puppets scatter across the screen.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Find giant puppets and family activities from the Multicultural Artists Guild at the children’s museum; the art museum will offer sugar skull-decorating, dance and music.
—Lisa Hix, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
The band, known for its chaotic sound and playful live shows with puppets and props, signed with Jack White's Third Man Records in 2023.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
One interlude, in the show's final segment, displays Brandy and Monica as puppets bound up in each other’s strings.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Think playing in the rain, collecting rocks or seashells, and doing shadow puppets and telling ghost stories at night.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 17 Oct. 2025
They’re populated with wooden puppets representing Loro Piana artisans, adorned with a rich palette of luminous gold, deep brown, dark green and touches of Art Deco as an ode to New York City.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
This dance party for toddlers and preschoolers is packed with silly puppets, cheerful songs, and endless smiles!
—Sarah Z. Sleeper, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Chaos reigns in the studio as ballerinas, toy soldiers, and puppets scatter across the screen.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Find giant puppets and family activities from the Multicultural Artists Guild at the children’s museum; the art museum will offer sugar skull-decorating, dance and music.
—Lisa Hix, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
The band, known for its chaotic sound and playful live shows with puppets and props, signed with Jack White's Third Man Records in 2023.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
One interlude, in the show's final segment, displays Brandy and Monica as puppets bound up in each other’s strings.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Think playing in the rain, collecting rocks or seashells, and doing shadow puppets and telling ghost stories at night.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 17 Oct. 2025
They’re populated with wooden puppets representing Loro Piana artisans, adorned with a rich palette of luminous gold, deep brown, dark green and touches of Art Deco as an ode to New York City.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
This dance party for toddlers and preschoolers is packed with silly puppets, cheerful songs, and endless smiles!
—Sarah Z. Sleeper, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puppets
Noun
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In other words, Mattel isn’t just making Barbie dolls with long, purple braids (though there will probably be those too) here.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
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Some stalls leaned into gothic and horror themes — creepy dolls, crocheted bats and taxidermy shadow boxes — while others were more classic fare, selling plastic pumpkins, ghosts and skulls.—
Sonia Mankame,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There’s a common refrain that the troops are being used as pawns.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
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My values include the beliefs that all of our students should feel safe, respected, and valued in our schools, that decisions should be made on the best available evidence and data, that our kids are not political pawns, that inclusion creates opportunity, and that schools shouldn’t ban books.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For all of the perils of injecting it into the newsgathering process, AI tools have also come to be seen as useful and less-fraught ways to create efficiencies in editing, advertising and other areas.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
25 Oct. 2025
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Make sure all ingredients and tools are as cold as possible.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puppets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puppets. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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