puppet

/ˈpʌpət/

/ˈpʌpɪt/

Other forms: puppets

A doll or figure controlled by a person so that it appears to be moving on its own is a puppet. A puppet can be fun, but if you feel like a puppet, it seems like someone is controlling you. Not fun.

A puppet show, performed for an audience, is a kind of theater — with puppets instead of actors. Hand puppets' arms are controlled by the puppeteer's fingers, while marionettes have many more nuances of movement due to the strings attached to various parts of their bodies. These complex puppets can appear very human-like. Sometimes puppet means someone who is controlled by others: "He was president, but he was just a puppet for his political party."

Definitions of puppet

1. noun

   a small figure of a person operated from above with strings by a puppeteer
   synonyms: marionette

   type of:

   figure

   a model of a bodily form (especially of a person)
2. noun

   a doll with a hollow head of a person or animal and a cloth body; intended to fit over the hand and be manipulated with the fingers
   types:

   glove doll, glove puppet, hand puppet

   a puppet with a cloth body and hollow head; fits over the hand

   type of:

   doll, dolly

   a small replica of a person; used as a toy
3. noun

   a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else
   synonyms: creature, tool

   type of:

   slave

   a person who is owned by someone