figurehead

It’s not even so much policy-based, I just think politics has become so much of a machine — and I like having the feeling that one person can ultimately make the decision, that he is not just the figurehead and the machine is running everything.

How will we know if Kim, when he eventually surfaces, is ruler or figurehead?

Waters herself is a gay figurehead, but again she shrinks from any compliments.

Less than 12 hours later, they lost their inspirational figurehead.

He may be a figurehead, but the president who is elected today is worth keeping an eye on for signs of where Pakistan is going.

Indeed, Medvedev was never really more than a figurehead president, despite the theoretically huge powers attached to the job.

The statues here, and the lions before the Prince of Orange's palace, would disgrace almost the figurehead of a ship.

Without power or privileges, she was a mere figurehead—a good mother looking after her family.

The Speaking Oak then bade him cut off one of its great limbs, and carve from it a figurehead for his ship.

Would people really prefer a figurehead and a symbol of undisputed authority?

Walking steadily, but with a face set as the figurehead on one of his own ships, the captain went to answer the knock.