stooge

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: one who plays a subordinate or compliant role to a principal
2
3

stooge

2 of 2

verb

stooged; stooging

intransitive verb

: to act as a stooge
congressmen who stooge for the oil and mineral interestsNew Republic

Examples of stooge in a Sentence

Noun a gangster and his stooges He's just a stooge for the oil industry.
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.
Noun
Many, noting Minsk’s extensive dependence on Moscow, view Lukashenko as little more than a puppet or stooge of the Russian president, and Belarus as a sort of vassal state. Artyom Shraibman, Foreign Affairs, 31 Oct. 2023 So the new senator needs to be a stooge who ensures the deal sails through. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
Editorial: Donald Trump uses Democrats as stooges at address to Congress. Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025 Pattinson, a putty-limbed stooge one minute and a vicious nihilist the next, has fun challenging Mickey’s preconceptions of himself—or, rather, himselves. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stooge

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stooge was in 1913

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stooge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stooge. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

stooge

noun
ˈstüj
1
: one who follows or serves another without thinking
2
: an actor who usually by asking questions prepares the way for a principal comedian's jokes
stooge verb

More from Merriam-Webster on stooge

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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