A puppet is usually something controlleddirected or managed by another person, not acting independently by someone else. It can mean a person used by others for their own purposesthe goals or aims someone wants to achieve, or a small figure moved by strings, or a hand-held doll used in play or performancean act of entertaining an audience, especially on stage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈpʌpɪt/
Easy pronunciation: PUP-it (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Figurative noun meaning a person controlled by others, not the toy figure.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Puppet Meaning
someone who is used by another person and has little or no independence
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person who is controlled by others and is used to do unpleasant or dishonest things for them
Example: The mayor was just a puppet for powerful business leaders.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- tool — A common figurative synonym when a person is being used by someone else.
- creature — Can be used in this figurative sense, though it is harsher and less direct than tool.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Puppet
Meaning 2
a figure controlled by strings for a show
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a small figure of a person operated from above with strings by a puppeteer
Example: The child watched the puppet dance across the stage.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- marionette — A precise synonym for this string-operated figure.
Meaning 3
a hand puppet
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a doll with a hollow head and a cloth body, made to fit over the hand and moved with the fingers
Example: She slipped the puppet onto her hand and made it talk.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Puppet Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- tool
- creature
a string-operated figure in a puppet show
- marionette
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Don’t use puppet to mean the same thing as doll in general. It specifically refers to a controlled figure, often for a show, or to a person controlled by others.
- Marionette is not a general synonym for every kind of puppet; it refers to the string-operated type.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does puppet mean in everyday English?
In everyday English, puppet often means a person who is controlled by someone else and used to do their work or carry out their plans.
What is the difference between a puppet and a marionette?
A marionette is a puppet moved from above with strings. Puppet is the broader word and can also mean a hand puppet or a person controlled by others.
What are the best puppet synonyms?
For the figurative meaning, tool is the strongest synonym here. For the string-operated figure, marionette is the best match.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
