IPA: /ˈpʌpɪtɪr/
KK: /ˈpʌpɪtɪr/
A person who controls and operates puppets, often to entertain an audience.
The puppeteer skillfully made the puppet dance and sing during the show.
Puppeteer → It is formed from "puppet" (from Middle English *popet*, meaning a small figure or doll) and "-eer" (meaning a person who). A puppeteer is a person who manipulates puppets.
Think of a 'puppet' being controlled by a 'person' ('-eer') — that's what a puppeteer does.
No commonly confused words.