marionette

American  

[mar-ee-uh-net] / ˌmær i əˈnɛt /

noun

1. a puppet manipulated from above by strings attached to its jointed limbs.

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marionette British  

/ ˌmærɪəˈnɛt /

noun

1. an articulated puppet or doll whose jointed limbs are moved by strings

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Etymology

Origin of marionette

1610–20; < French marionnette, equivalent to Marion (diminutive of Marie Mary) + -ette -ette

Example Sentences

Christmas lights glisten, a communal tree beckons to be decorated and a marionette handler wanders the grounds.

From Los Angeles Times

When she forced a cheery smile, she took on the appearance of a badly painted marionette.

From Literature

My timings, my instincts, the way that I thought, the way I saw it in my head could be expressed through these really high-tech marionettes on a computer.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Initially, when I pitched the show I wanted to do an Almodóvar film with marionettes and Adult Swim very wisely said, ‘This is going to create more complications for you,’” he recalls.

From Los Angeles Times

The duo was accompanied by vintage marionettes and their handlers, who played backup dancers in the shapes of jellyfish, cats and aliens.

From Los Angeles Times