noun
puppeteer
puh-pih-TEER
noun
1
A person who operates puppets, especially as a performer.
"The puppeteer worked the marionette so smoothly it seemed alive."
2
Someone who secretly controls people or events for their own ends.
"The whistleblower revealed the puppeteer behind the shell companies."
verb
1
To control or manipulate someone or something from behind the scenes.
"He puppeteered the negotiations without ever appearing in public."
How to Use Puppeteer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who works puppets, or figuratively someone who secretly pulls the strings.
Common pairings
skilled puppeteer
shadow puppeteer
Word Forms
puppeteered past tense, puppeteers plural, puppeteers singular
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The _____ worked the marionette so smoothly it seemed alive.
Etymology
From puppet plus the agent suffix -eer, as in "engineer" or "auctioneer."