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Glite Dictionary
puppet leader

puppet leader

1 6.5
A leader who seems to be in charge but is actually controlled by another group or person
  • noun
  • /ˈpʌpɪt ˈlidər/
  • Offensive
translation icon : líder títere
  • After the coup, the new ruler quickly became known as a puppet leader controlled by military generals.

Examples

  • So much so that the first chance they got, they took out their puppet leader Nagibullah and hanged him, just like they will someday do to the American puppet Karzai.

    Blog text (2)

  • The government was seen as a puppet leader because it followed the orders of foreign powers.

  • Many citizens felt their president was just a puppet leader, influenced by wealthy donors behind the scenes.

Synonyms

puppet
vspuppet leader
  • Offensive
152 5.6

A person controlled by others to do things for them

is a person with outward authority but actually run by stronger forces
figurehead
vspuppet leader
15 7.2

A person with a title but no real power who acts as a front

is actually controlled by another, not merely a public symbol
puppet ruler
vspuppet leader
  • Offensive
7.7

A leader who has the title but another person or country controls them

is controlled by another, typically a more powerful person or group
paper general
vspuppet leader
  • Offensive
9.4

A person with a high title who has no real power

is placed under control by outside forces rather than only lacking influence

Antonyms

independent
984 2.3

Not controlled by others

autonomous
51 6.3

Free to make its own decisions without outside control

How Controlled

figurehead
15 7.2
puppet leader
  • Offensive
1 6.5
stooge
  • Offensive
32 7.9

Surface Forms

puppet leader singular
puppet leaders plural

Morphology

puppet + leader

The meaning is directly and compositionally derivable from 'puppet' (someone controlled by others) modifying 'leader' (a person who leads), so a learner who knows both words can infer a leader who is controlled by someone else. This noun‑noun construction and the metaphor of a 'puppet' controlling behavior are common cross‑linguistically, making the expression readily understandable at B1.

Etymology

Puppet leader comes from the image of a puppet on strings, moved by a person behind the stage while the leader only looks in charge. So, it means a leader who 'appears to be in charge' but is actually 'controlled' by someone else.