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
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Recent Examples of fall guy
National security adviser Michael Waltz emerges as a potential fall guy in the Signal group chat fallout.
—
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025
Waltz has been seen as a potential fall guy, but even before Trump’s public vote of confidence, there were questions about whether anyone would be punished, particularly because it might be seen as a capitulation to Democrats and the news media.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 25 Mar. 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars sacked Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson on Monday in the NFL’s dark annual ritual of finding fall guys after the regular season came to an end Sunday night.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
And the cameo by the real fall guy left me elated.
—Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fall guy
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025
Waltz has been seen as a potential fall guy, but even before Trump’s public vote of confidence, there were questions about whether anyone would be punished, particularly because it might be seen as a capitulation to Democrats and the news media.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 25 Mar. 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars sacked Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson on Monday in the NFL’s dark annual ritual of finding fall guys after the regular season came to an end Sunday night.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
And the cameo by the real fall guy left me elated.
—Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fall guy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall guy
Noun
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The victims' identities were not released.—
NPR,
NPR,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Monday’s sentencing marks the end of a years-long legal battle between Laffitte and his victims, after Laffitte was reportedly the first to face federal charges as investigators looked to take down the Murdaugh empire.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There is simply no excuse for it.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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Wear them on a casual hike or during your morning coffee run—you’ll find endless excuses to break them out of your suitcase this season.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Gordie is invisible to his mother and a whipping boy to his father.—
Sezin Devi Koehler September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
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Beyond the gardens is a small cafe and an area to visit farm animals like chickens and goats.—
Emilio Parra Doiztua,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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There’s a haunted corn maze, marigold fields, bounceland, Jurassic Fright, a tractor ride and sheep, goats and rabbits.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, don’t sleep on Morgan Rielly as a dark-horse pick to become the new scapegoat in Toronto now that Mitch Marner has fled.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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As in prior moral panics, the technology proved to be an easy and tangible scapegoat, which enabled Americans to avoid grappling with the complex social factors—like deindustrialization, urban decay, and disillusioned suburban children—that led to a combustible situation ripe for tragedy.—
Time,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fall guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20guy. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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