Synonyms of puppets

puppets

noun

plural of puppet

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

• dolls
• dollies
• poppets
• action figures
• figures
• marionettes
• figurines
• rag dolls
• handpuppets

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

• pawns
• tools
• minions
• victims
• suckers
• instruments
• lay figures
• cat's-paws
• dupes
• foils
• stooges
• chumps
• gulls
• yes-men
• lap dogs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of puppets

The Cyclops is not a digital monster but a combination of animatronics, puppets, and computer graphics, brought to life by the performance of Bill Irwin, the same actor who gave voice and form to the robot in Interstellar. — Valentina Colosimo, Vanity Fair, 14 July 2026

This Franco-Swiss film from director Claude Barras deploys tenderly expressive puppets to tell the story of a boy placed in an orphanage after inadvertently killing his alcoholic mother. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026

It is based on a screenplay and directed by the theater’s veteran puppeteer Florian Moch, who has brought the story’s underwater world and colourful community of fish to life through traditional puppetry, crafting most of the puppets himself. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 June 2026

Beyond the music, there are festive parades, workshops for making puppets or gardening, a 5K run, yoga, silent discos and much more. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026

Around 2020, one of the rarest first movie puppets more or less fell into my lap, which really got the wheels spinning hard. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 June 2026

Bird featured John Candy, Chevy Chase and Dave Thomas as well as the marquee puppets. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026

Other works include wearable pieces that are embroidered and feature patchwork to reflect the artist’s culture and heritage, sculptures made of textiles, a fabric book, puppets and more. — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

The animals, including Rosie the elephant, a lion named Rex, an orangutan named Agnes and a dog named Queenie, are portrayed either with puppets or with circus performers wearing elaborate costumes. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026