puppeteer

noun

pup·​pe·​teer ˌpə-pə-ˈtir How to pronounce puppeteer (audio)
: one who manipulates puppets

Examples of puppeteer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Working with a team of puppeteers on a set of a certain diameter was a real challenge. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026 Italian puppeteers brought marionettes to Britain in the 17th century. — Kelly Kasulis Cho, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2026 The locally made independent clothing line is a favorite among Angelenos with a fashion bent, the puppeteers of Bob Baker Marionette Theater, ceramicists, skateboarders and some of your favorite chefs and farmers. — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Other designers and puppeteers were enlisted to unify the show visually and stylistically. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for puppeteer

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of puppeteer was in 1915

Rhymes for puppeteer

See All Rhymes for puppeteer

Browse Nearby Words

puppet
puppeteer
puppet government
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Puppeteer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puppeteer. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

puppeteer

noun
pup·​pe·​teer ˌpəp-ə-ˈti(ə)r How to pronounce puppeteer (audio)
: one who works puppets
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All