fall guy

Definition of fall guynext
as in victim
a person or thing taking the blame for others the sandlot ball players wanted the littlest kid to be the fall guy for the broken window, figuring that he'd have the best chance of escaping punishment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 fall guy But if there is going to be a fall guy for what transpired in the conference finals, Atkinson is a candidate. — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 26 May 2026 In real life, Miller takes the ribbing well, happy to be his friend’s fall guy for the purposes of narrative structure. — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026 At Oregon State, Blaylock served as the university’s primary point of contact for the Blueprint partnership and, ultimately, became its fall guy, resigning from his post in late October. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Dec. 2025 In San Diego, he was doomed by an ownership change, becoming a convenient fall guy for delusional former Miami Dolphins executive Mike Dee. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fall guy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall guy
Noun
  • In steady rain and silence, thousands marched in Novi Sad on Sunday in a gesture of respect for the victims.
    — MARKO DROBNJAKOVIC, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • American women, being birthed as special victims with special status, are not.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Heavy rain was a factor, but the Falcons refused to use the weather as an excuse.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • That is no excuse for fans who target the families of college football coaches.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Apparently, this happens all the time because Daisy is Martha’s makeup artist as well as traveling companion, sounding board, and whipping boy.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The former Maple Leaf was a whipping boy in Toronto whenever the Leafs couldn't get past the second round of the playoffs, but his first postseason in Vegas has been downright magical.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • Here, goats nose through massive piles of garbage left uncollected for weeks in the simmering 90-degree heat.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Nov. 2026
  • For this collaboration, the Loretta boot is crafted from soft goat leather with a polished finish.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Trumpworld searched frantically for scapegoats to deflect blame that the electoral bloodbath was a rebuke of the president and his agenda.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • DePodesta claims Boutros convinced Boutros' boss, Blanche, and DePodesta's boss, Patel, to make DePodesta the scapegoat for a series of botched Midway Blitz prosecutions.
    — Chris Tye, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fall guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20guy. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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