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
The Jewish state, as usual, makes a handy fall guy.
—
Max Boot, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 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
The Bellows fall guy here is Darrin’s boss, Larry Tate, who suspects something but can never prove it.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fall guy
Max Boot, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 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
The Bellows fall guy here is Darrin’s boss, Larry Tate, who suspects something but can never prove it.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fall guy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall guy
Noun
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Investigators determined the victim was Edgar Carlos Garcia, then 39, of Mexico, who died after sustaining fatal injuries during an altercation that took place inside the warehouse.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2026
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The Israeli strikes killed five people around the town of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, according to the official news agency NNA, and the army said a soldier was along the victims.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Noun
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Immigration advocates and lawyers said the hurricane season is just an excuse and not the real reason why the detainees have been transferred.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
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While player welfare is a real concern with temperatures expected to exceed 90 F (32 C) in the hottest World Cup venues, some say the hydration breaks are just an excuse for broadcasters to go to commercials in the middle of the game.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Noun
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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
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The middle class or big corporations don’t want to become the mayor’s whipping boy.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, during a watch party at the downtown Power & Light District, a goat accompanied by former NFL quarterback-turned-Fox broadcaster Jameis Winston came on stage wearing an Argentina jersey.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
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The flesh-eating parasite has infected cattle, goats, and now a dog.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Fox News’s Peter Doocy asked Trump whether sending Vance to Geneva, Switzerland, to sign the memorandum of understanding on Friday gives him a scapegoat in case the negotiations fall apart.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
17 June 2026
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One of Rinderknecht’s lawyers, Steve Haney, has said Rinderknecht has become a scapegoat for the Los Angeles Fire Department’s failure to fully extinguish the Lachman Fire (which reignited into the Palisades Fire).—
Swasti Singhai,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fall guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20guy. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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