1
a
: one who plays a subordinate or compliant role to a principal
b
2
stooged; stooging
: to act as a stooge
congressmen who stooge for the oil and mineral interests—
New Republic
New RepublicExamples 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
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Naturally, the theft of the ghost shirt by the stooges in the employ of Roy Lee is accompanied by many deceased bodies — the first of the many bloodbaths in Americana, which has a distressingly expedient approach to on-screen carnage.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Matt Frewer had already established himself as Max Headroom and the Trashcan Man prior to joining Orphan Black as Dr. Aldous Leekie, a Dyad Institute stooge and face of the Neolution movement.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stooge
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
Though Sami’s previous ambivalence over the group’s mission makes his eventual attack on Whelan a bit curious, River’s heroic rescue of the beleaguered First Desk stooge sets up the real dénouement in which his future and the future of Slough House itself is briefly in question.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Naturally, the theft of the ghost shirt by the stooges in the employ of Roy Lee is accompanied by many deceased bodies — the first of the many bloodbaths in Americana, which has a distressingly expedient approach to on-screen carnage.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
The fake Americano hid under the ring but Tessitore stooged him out.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Matt Frewer had already established himself as Max Headroom and the Trashcan Man prior to joining Orphan Black as Dr. Aldous Leekie, a Dyad Institute stooge and face of the Neolution movement.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stooge
Cite this Entry
“Stooge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stooge. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share