The "retired" president of that company runs the whole show from behind the scenes, so the current president is nothing but a figurehead.
Source: tatoeba (49140)
Figurehead
/ˈfɪɡjəɹˌhɛd/
Synonyms for "figurehead" (209 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (42)
Strong matches (63)
crossdecorationdeputydiscipledolldollydressdummyeagleemblememblemsensignensignsexecutive officerexponentfantoccinifascesfigurefigurinefleur-de-lis
Show 39 more words
flunkyfollowerforecastleforedeckforepeakfrontfront mangilliegingerbread mangoonhammer and sicklehanger onhanger-onhenchmanheraldryinsigniainsignificancyjackaljackstrawjib boomlackeylapel pinlay figurelieutenantlightweightlittle fellowlittle guyliverylocumlocum tenensmacemanman in the streetman of strawmanikinmannequinmantlemarionettemarking
Related words (104)
markingsmedalmediocrityminionmodelmonumentmortarboardmouthpiecemyrmidonnebbishnobodynobody one knowsnominal headnonentitynosenothingobscurityold school tieparanymphparts
Show 70 more words
pinpinch hitterpip squeakpip-squeakpleaderportrait bustprocuratorproreprowproxypunkpuppetregaliarepresentativeringroserostrumruntsatellitescarecrowschool ringscrubsculpturesecond in commandsecondaryshamrockshipshrimpsigillographyskull and crossbonessmall frysmall potatosmall potatoessnowmansphragisticssquirtsquitstaffstand instand-instatuarystatuestatuettestemstoogestraw mansubstitutesurrogateswastikasycophantsymboltartanthistlethugtieunderstudyuniformutility manvergevicarvicar generalvicevicegerentvotarywandwax figurewaxworkwhiffetwhippersnapperwood carving
Adjective(2 words)
nominal bosstitular
Noun(12 words)
nominal headnominal leaderprow ornamentpuppetpuppetsreligious leaderringleadersship figurestate governorsultantitular headtop figure
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: a nobody, a nothing, adherent, advocate, alter ego.
- Sentence evidence is available for figurehead, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "figurehead".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "figurehead"
Keep "figurehead" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "figurehead" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "figurehead", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "figurehead" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesMore specific
4 entriesbow sculpturefront mannominal bossprow statue
Collocations
6 entriesceremonial figureheadfigurehead positionfigurehead rolenominal figureheadpuppet figureheadship figurehead
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
She's the party's figurehead.
Source: tatoeba (11536021)
President Jackson is just a figurehead for the international conspiracy of Esperantists.
Source: tatoeba (13102683)
Evidently he did not mean to be a mere figurehead, but to carry on the old tradition of Wilsthorpe's; and that was considered to be a good thing in itself and an augury for future prosperity.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "figurehead"?
Closest matches include a nobody, a nothing, adherent, advocate, alter ego.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "figurehead"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.