Lay figure
Lay figure noun - One that is or can be used to further the purposes of another.
Usage example: the novel's characters are not fully fleshed humans, but are simply lay figures strutted out to serve as mouthpieces for conflicting points of view
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Synonyms for Lay figure
Puppet and lay figure are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Puppet" instead a noun phrase "Lay figure".
Puppet
Puppet noun - One that is or can be used to further the purposes of another.
Usage example: accused the newspaper editor of being a puppet for the moneyed people of the town
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Synonyms for Puppet
Mutual synonyms
Cite this Source
Puppet and Lay figure. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 01, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/lay_figure/puppet
Lay figure & Puppet. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/lay_figure/puppet>.
Puppet or Lay figure. 2016. Accessed August 01, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/lay_figure/puppet.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "lay figure" and "puppet" have occurred on timeline