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Synonyms

stooge

American  
[stooj] / studʒ /

noun

  1. any underling, assistant, or accomplice.

  2. an entertainer who feeds lines to the main comedian and usually serves as the butt of the jokes.


verb (used without object)

stooged, stooging
  1. to act as an underling, assistant, or accomplice.

stooge British  
/ stuːdʒ /

noun

  1. an actor who feeds lines to a comedian or acts as his foil or butt

  2. slang someone who is taken advantage of by another

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. slang to act as a stooge

  2. slang (esp in the RAF) to fly or move about aimlessly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Its corporate stooge Mr Paradox, played by Succession's Matthew Macfadyen, tries to covertly recruit Deadpool to help safeguard the central "sacred" timeline of reality by sacrificing his world.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 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

“We better get a doctor,” he had yelled at the kid called Obie, Archie’s stooge.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier