stooge
Americannoun
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any underling, assistant, or accomplice.
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an entertainer who feeds lines to the main comedian and usually serves as the butt of the jokes.
verb (used without object)
noun
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an actor who feeds lines to a comedian or acts as his foil or butt
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slang someone who is taken advantage of by another
verb
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slang to act as a stooge
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slang (esp in the RAF) to fly or move about aimlessly
Etymology
Origin of stooge
An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; origin uncertain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One of the smart tweaks Bong has made to Ashton’s book is devolving the character from an everyman into a passive stooge.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2025
However, defence barrister Charles Sherrard KC alleged Mr Richards had not seen any headbutt and had instead made the claim because he was "Roy's mate" and "puppy", adding: "You have become Roy Keane's stooge."
From BBC • May 31, 2024
So, what’s a stooge like me to do?
From Slate • Mar. 11, 2024
Then again, Myn has a reason for stonewalling Hera – he's an Imperial stooge wearing the cloak of a businessman.
From Salon • Sep. 7, 2023
None of us would have expected it from Padre Gabriel, who was, we thought, a stooge substitute sent in after Padre de Jesus was arrested.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
