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 altercation was captured on CTA surveillance video and cellphone footage taken by the theft victim, according to court documents.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
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Ten victims will testify on Wednesday, some of whom haven’t spoken since Epstein’s first arrest in 2005.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Investors don’t need another earnings call filled with excuses about macro headwinds when the rest of the industry is growing.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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To open flat is without excuse, given the setting.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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The Republicans and their puppet master, Donald Trump, are ginning up the machine against immigration and making Mayorkas their whipping boy for chaos at the border.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2024
Noun
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The mountain lion had killed a goat the night before and came back to continue to feed on it, deputies said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Wallace is a goat-owning, hog-hunting, anime-loving, fast-talking personification of energy.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There's no doubt that Shurmur is now the scapegoat at CU following an atrocious outing for his unit.—
Andrew Hughes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
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In a statement on Twitter, Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, alleged that she had only been convicted because the DOJ needed a scapegoat after Epstein died in jail before his case went to trial.—
Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita , David Spunt,
FOXNews.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fall guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20guy. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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