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Definition of puppeteer

puppeteer

/ˌpʌp.əˈtɪr/
pup · pet · eer
Plural:puppeteers
•
Past Simple:puppeteered
•
Past Participle:puppeteered
•
Present Participle:puppeteering
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puppeteer Lexical Profile

puppeteer Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A performer who manipulates and animates puppets, such as marionettes, hand puppets, or shadow figures, to entertain an audience.

Example

"The skilled puppeteer brought the wooden character to life with subtle movements of her fingers."

2

A person who secretly controls, directs, or manipulates the actions of others from behind the scenes.

Example

"Critics accused the billionaire donor of acting as a political puppeteer over the city council."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

To operate or perform with puppets.

Example

"She has puppeteered on several popular children's television shows over the past decade."

2

To covertly manipulate or control the behavior and decisions of another person or group.

Example

"The shadowy syndicate puppeteered the entire election from behind closed doors."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for puppeteer

• Nearby Words

pupfish
pupil
puppet
puppeteer
puppeteering
puppetlike
puppetmaster

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century from the noun 'puppet' (ultimately from Latin 'pupa', meaning 'girl' or 'doll') combined with the agentive suffix '-eer'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Puppeteer. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/puppeteer
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