puppets

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

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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of puppets Others have opted for the puppeteering class, upstairs, where pairs of students are taught to bring their humanoid puppets to life. — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026 This has since become the standard for puppets in Laika’s films. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 24 Oct. 2026 The Laika crew built 136 sets and 231 puppets to get her there. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026 Expect a night of dazzling sights, as costumed performers, puppets and floats make their way down Columbus Drive. — Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 The world was composed of 233 handmade puppets, overlaid with hundreds of thousands of replacement faces; 132 practical sets were built, which included 728 miniature trees representing 10 species specific to the Pacific Northwest. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 Glass Half Full works extensively with puppets, and this production is no exception. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 The evening, co-hosted by Vanity Fair, marked a continuation in the film’s already lengthy journey, with a suitably ambitious exhibition pulling back the curtain on costumes, puppets, props and diminutive sets. — Bridget Arsenault, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026 Unlike many other leftists, who saw the Nazis as mere puppets of capitalism, Seghers understood the raw, sensual appeal of the Fascist message. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puppets
Noun
  • Pull some treats from the open coffin at Scotto Funeral Home, on the corner of Court Street and 2nd Place, then head to President near Hoyt to gawk at bloodstained windows and mutilated dolls.
    — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Teddy bears and trains, baseballs and dolls dance through the air into Santa's enormous sack, which sits at Santa's feet, or rather Harry's, who is perched high on the throne at the back of the float, magnificent in white whiskers and red velvet.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Youth used as pawns, BJP says The cockroach movement has emerged as one of the biggest political challenges faced by Modi and his BJP in his 12 years in power.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Career public servants are people, not pawns, and no one who has devoted their life to serving the American public should have their good name destroyed for partisan, political gain.
    — Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Trailers, motorcycles, tow dollies and some commercial tractor-trailer trucks only need one license plate, the DMV said.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The 750-ton building was placed onto 20 dollies and moved onto city property where it was ultimately restored and opened as a museum and events venue.
    — Camila Gomez, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In 2005, Chris and Robin Sorensen created the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, with a mission of providing first-responders with life-saving equipment, tools and education.
    — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Mia Lerner, a 17-year-old high school senior in California and a youth body image activist, knows the toll these digital tools can take.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Puppets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puppets. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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