Thesaurus results for LAY FIGURE

lay figure

noun

Definition of lay figure

as in tool

one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another 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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay figure

Noun

The New York Times has approved AI tools across its editorial and product teams and built an internal summarization tool called Echo, while barring staff from using AI to draft or substantially revise an article.

— Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The team hired Moonshot to monitor online threats against its players – using tools that Moonshot developed a decade ago for national security purposes.

— Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of tool

Noun

She can be seen in surveillance footage purchasing a gun and ammunition from a local pawn shop before stopping for gas at a convenience store.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026
Melton was a Mountain West All-Academic pick who today is an avid chess player, moving pawns on his phone or going toe-to-toe with Justin Verlander in the middle of the clubhouse.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of pawn

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lay eyes on

lay figure

lay figures

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“Lay figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figure. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lay figure

noun

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