Definition of cat's-pawnext
as in pawn
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another these changes to the zoning laws have only confirmed for many that the town council has become the cat's-paw of local real estate developers

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for cat's-paw
Noun
  • Harvey Keitel co-stars as a fellow veteran hired by Trejo’s character to work at the pawn shop.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • As Melinda points out later, Flora is a pawn of Carla’s and Morgan’s in every respect.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • There’s the plush seating area for makeup, hair, and comfortable waiting, of course, but there’s also a bathroom replete with outlets for styling tools and with multiple sinks.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This year's prizes began with the Nobel for medicine, awarded Monday to three scientists whose work led to a tool that uses light to help unravel how the brain works.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Cat's-paw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cat%27s-paw. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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