useful idiot

noun

plural useful idiots
: a naive or credulous person who can be manipulated or exploited to advance a cause or political agenda
… you might want to think twice about voting for your … incumbent senator, congressman or state legislator, who sees you as nothing more than their useful idiot.—Dion Lefler

Examples of useful idiot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
A lot of people in tech regard the media as useful idiots. — Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026 But rather than being brave truth tellers, the authors are playing the role of useful idiots. — Adam Becker, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2025 With useful idiots like Laura Ali. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025 That’s the useful part of the AI in the useful idiot consideration. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for useful idiot

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of useful idiot was in 1864

Browse Nearby Words

useful
useful idiot
useful life
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Useful idiot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/useful%20idiot. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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