often attributive
1
a
: a small-scale figure (as of a person or animal) usually with a cloth body and hollow head that fits over and is moved by the hand
b
2
3
: one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence
a puppet ruler
Examples of puppet in a Sentence
a dictator who was perceived as being an American puppet
gave her a puppet with strings for a gift
Recent Examples on the Web
Photograph: Nissan The first iteration of the puppet came with a mouth and a little fang sticking out from it.
—
Elissaveta M. Brandon, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024
Aardman will also bring along several of the puppets from the new film as part of a Wallace & Gromit exhibition at Annecy this year.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024
Politician 'puppets for corporate America' A day before the voting was to start, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and five other Republican governors in Southern states with nonunion automakers issued a lengthy letter in an attempt to thwart a union at VW Chattanooga.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
Still the sounds were entrancing and the giant puppet impressive.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
The Unthinkable Bygone, in which a 3D model of Baby Sinclair from Jim Henson’s animatronic puppet TV series Dinosaurs (1991–1994) is subjected to simulation, dissection, reflection, and endoscopy.
—Seyward Darby, Longreads, 17 Apr. 2024
Star of the Carnival: The Brazilian city of Olinda has become famous for its giant puppets during Brazil’s Carnival celebrations, including a 12-foot one of John Travolta.
—Jack Nicas Dado Galdieri, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
How about fighting with a giant sheep puppet, getting ripped across the stage in a fake windstorm and delivering A-list guest performers for a career-spanning set that proved his singular place in L.A. music history.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
But while his girlfriend Haley (Francesca Reale) dreams of a life together, traditional careers and a pricy loft in Manhattan, Rudy makes insubstantial money performing his musical puppet show on the subway.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 6 Apr. 2024
Elissaveta M. Brandon, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024
Aardman will also bring along several of the puppets from the new film as part of a Wallace & Gromit exhibition at Annecy this year.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024
Politician 'puppets for corporate America' A day before the voting was to start, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and five other Republican governors in Southern states with nonunion automakers issued a lengthy letter in an attempt to thwart a union at VW Chattanooga.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
Still the sounds were entrancing and the giant puppet impressive.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
The Unthinkable Bygone, in which a 3D model of Baby Sinclair from Jim Henson’s animatronic puppet TV series Dinosaurs (1991–1994) is subjected to simulation, dissection, reflection, and endoscopy.
—Seyward Darby, Longreads, 17 Apr. 2024
Star of the Carnival: The Brazilian city of Olinda has become famous for its giant puppets during Brazil’s Carnival celebrations, including a 12-foot one of John Travolta.
—Jack Nicas Dado Galdieri, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
How about fighting with a giant sheep puppet, getting ripped across the stage in a fake windstorm and delivering A-list guest performers for a career-spanning set that proved his singular place in L.A. music history.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
But while his girlfriend Haley (Francesca Reale) dreams of a life together, traditional careers and a pricy loft in Manhattan, Rudy makes insubstantial money performing his musical puppet show on the subway.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'puppet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Puppet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puppet. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
puppet
noun
pup·pet
ˈpəp-ət 
1
: a doll moved by hand or by strings or wires
2
3
: a person or a government whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence
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