Why this word appears in Connections
In Connections #1227 on October 20, 2026, STOOGE belongs with MINION, POODLE and PUPPET in the green group LACKEY. The intended sense is a compliant subordinate or someone serving another person's purposes. The comedy-partner meaning does not explain this quartet together.
Puzzles featuring this word
Calling someone a stooge
Calling a person a stooge usually criticizes their independence. Merriam-Webster emphasizes a subordinate or compliant role; Oxford describes a person used by somebody else to do unpleasant or dishonest things. The word can carry more criticism than the neutral job description assistant.
In the invented sentence 'The adviser was only a stooge for the financier,' the speaker suggests the adviser acts in the financier's interests. That is the kind of person-description needed by LACKEY. In the same group, PUPPET also uses a figurative human sense, while the linked Poodle guide explains its less familiar follower meaning.
The separate comedy meaning
In a comedy act, a stooge can be a supporting performer whose role gives the principal performer opportunities for jokes. Merriam-Webster links this sense to straight man; Oxford also describes a performer who appears silly so that others can joke about them.
The comedy use describes a performance role. The lackey use describes a person's subordinate relationship to someone else. For the October 20 puzzle, the second relationship fits all four entries without identifying any particular comedy troupe or entertainer.
How do you pronounce it?
Say STOOJ, /stuːdʒ/. It has one syllable, ending with the /dʒ/ sound heard at the end of judge.
Where the word comes from
Both Merriam-Webster and Oxford label the word's origin as unknown. Merriam-Webster records noun use from 1913, which dates a known occurrence without establishing where or how the word was coined.
Frequently asked questions
What does STOOGE mean in Connections #1227?
It means a compliant subordinate or someone used to serve another person's purposes. That lackey sense connects STOOGE with MINION, POODLE and PUPPET.
Can stooge mean a comedy partner?
Yes. A stooge can be a supporting performer who sets up another performer's jokes or becomes their target. That is a separate meaning from the human lackey sense used in the puzzle.
Is calling someone a stooge insulting?
In the subordinate-person sense it is usually disapproving. It suggests the person is compliant or being used, so it is more critical than simply calling someone an assistant.
Where does the word stooge come from?
Its origin is unknown according to both Merriam-Webster and Oxford. Merriam-Webster records the noun from 1913, but that early usage does not establish a definite derivation.