Thesaurus results for WHIPPING BOY

whipping boy

noun

Definition of whipping boy

as in victim

a person or thing taking the blame for others used the government's economic policies as the whipping boy for every bad decision the company made

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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 whipping boy There will always be whipping boys at the World Cup, a team who arrive underprepared or in chaos of some description. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025 Gordie is invisible to his mother and a whipping boy to his father. — Sezin Devi Koehler September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Yet Hojlund only has to look at Scott McTominay and how Conte revitalised his career in Naples after years of being a United whipping boy by some sections of the fan base. — Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Once more, Turkey seems to have become a whipping boy for all manner of interests, some of which have little to do with the realities of Turkey itself. — Hugh Pope, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2010 See All Example Sentences for whipping boy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whipping boy

Noun

The hearing in Barrow County court is expected to begin with victims’ families and survivors, many of whom spoke powerfully at Colt’s sentencing.

— Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Shanon Gray, an attorney representing the family of victim Kaylee Goncalves, disputed the significance of the evidence.

— Michael Ruiz , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of victim

Noun

In California, where the size and intensity of wildfires have increased, 400 goats and 100 sheep have been deployed in Fresno to graze on yellow star thistle, a weed that can help to spread fires.

— Lea Tran, TheWeek, 29 July 2026
Additional buildings include an equipment barn, cattle and alpaca barns, a chicken coop, and another barn for goats and sheep.

— Mark David, Robb Report, 27 July 2026

Definition of goat

Noun

Though the crime is a problem that needs to be addressed, Robinson said some of her neighbors are using it as an excuse to make racist comments.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
Many companies are laying off valuable employees, often blaming AI, but experts suggest AI frequently serves as an excuse for corporate restructuring or past overhiring.

— Peter D. Banko, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of excuse

Noun

The article goes on to report that a large body of research and analysis confirms that AI is frequently used as a convenient public scapegoat to justify corporate restructuring, to hide overhiring from previous years, and to appease Wall Street.

— Peter D. Banko, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Beckham became a national scapegoat after that match and was vilified by the British fans and media.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Definition of scapegoat

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“Whipping boy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whipping%20boy. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of whipping boy

noun

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