marionette

noun

Definition of marionettenext
as in doll
a puppet that is moved by pulling strings or wires that are attached to its body

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of marionette Sid spent much of the 1950s touring his marionettes in Europe and even appeared with Judy Garland as her opening act during the latter part of the decade. — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026 Use daily for improvement in the look of smile lines, forehead wrinkles, marionette lines, skin hydration, skin elasticity, volume and plumpness. — Tory Johnson, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026 Natalie Haynes fleshes out the backstories of her cast—Jason, a handsome ship captain on a quest for the Golden Fleece, the scheming sorceress Medea, and Olympian deities toying with mortals like marionettes—and imbues them all with contemporary vibes. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 3 Mar. 2026 There are marionettes, masks, shadow puppets and table top puppets. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for marionette
Recent Examples of Synonyms for marionette
  1. doll
  2. dolly
  3. poppet
  4. rag doll
  5. figurine
Noun
  • Now, she's been immortalized with a Barbie doll and the pink energy of girlhood is headed for State Farm Arena.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Wear pink and scoop up some limited edition merch, but no word if Angel Reese’s new doll will be on the shelves (can confirm, however, that Reese spent part of her weekend giving back).
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of doll
Noun
  • Before Brown invented the Steadicam, about the only way to create a smooth moving shot on a film was to use a dolly, a technology that had been around since the early days of filmmaking but required heavy track that could only be laid so far.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 July 2026
  • Tuesday, surveillance video shows an SUV pull up and two people enter the back door of Hushcha's loft with a dolly.
    — Jason Rantala, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Definition of dolly
Noun
  • The Teflon seal around a poppet, a thruster valve, expanded and started extruding out as the thruster headed up.
    — Ryan Erik King / Jalopnik, Quartz, 5 Sep. 2024
  • Between 1902 and 1904, she was granted eight patents related to rotary engines, including sleeve-valve innovations that were improvements over conventional poppet valves.
    — John Greathouse, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2021
Definition of poppet
Noun
  • The ballad was inspired by Cusack's character in the franchise, the cowgirl rag doll Jessie.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 June 2026
  • Alvarado might have gotten away with some hard contact when initiating the box out, but Wembanyama may have gotten away with a flagrant foul after wrapping both of his arms near Alvarado's neck and tossing him like a rag doll.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Definition of rag doll
Noun
  • The two figures, dressed in Delft blue and white costumes and each clutching a tulip, leaned toward one another for a kiss, in the style of pottery figurines that are a staple of tourist souvenir stores throughout the Netherlands.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • This 7-inch tall figurine is made from durable, weather-resistant resin that is outdoor friendly in rain or shine.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2026
Definition of figurine

Browse Nearby Words

marines
marionette
marionettes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Marionette.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/marionette. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on marionette

Nglish: Translation of marionette for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about marionette

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of élan

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All