as in victim
a person or thing taking the blame for others companies often use the economy as a scapegoat to avoid taking responsibility for dropping sales

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of scapegoat Often it’s predicated on purely emotional appeals and seeking out scapegoats without actually solving anything and doing great long-term damage on even the most robust of democracies. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 21 Apr. 2025 That mediocrity requires a scapegoat for public relations purposes. ... Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025 But for Trump, nationwide injunctions seem to be a convenient scapegoat for undermining public confidence in the judiciary. Barbara McQuade, Twin Cities, 1 Apr. 2025 Since Mother Nature cannot be sued, utilities make handy scapegoats with deep pockets. Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scapegoat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scapegoat
Noun
  • The victim, who suffered a laceration to the head, was transported by EMS to Lincoln Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
  • Officials said 10 of the 11 victims were transported to a Miami hospital burn unit that specializes in burn treatments.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • And what is a podcast, after all, if not an excuse to hang out with people who seem cool?
    Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 28 May 2025
  • Wednesday, May 28, is National Hamburger Day, giving burger chains an excuse to offer their customers some deals.
    Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • While there, the King saw the cattle, sheep and goats on display, and was asked to present the Livestock Inter-Breed Championship Trophies.
    Greta Bjornson, People.com, 3 June 2025
  • Bush agreed to bring 100 of her nearly 600 head of goats and dorper sheep (a.k.a. hair sheep that molt their coats) to Mount Washington as an experiment this spring.
    Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scapegoat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scapegoat. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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