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
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 perfect fall guy Hayes’ lawsuit paints a damning picture of how UBS allegedly planned his downfall.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Which makes Ten Hag an invaluable fall guy.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 31 Oct. 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
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025
The perfect fall guy Hayes’ lawsuit paints a damning picture of how UBS allegedly planned his downfall.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Which makes Ten Hag an invaluable fall guy.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 31 Oct. 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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Both victims were under age 5 at the time of the crime, according to the statement.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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Police say identifying additional victims or witnesses will be critical as the investigation continues.—
Jamie Leary,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Spring-cleaning tips for your kitchen Little bits of food and dust frequently get trapped under major appliances like the stovetop, so spring cleaning is always a good excuse to check out what’s under there.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
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Young ladies going up against biological men — biological men — there is no excuse for that.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Blue cheese can be made from various types of milk, including sheep, goat, and cow's milk.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
31 Mar. 2026
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Your littlest charges will marvel at the size of the camels, tortoises and giraffes lumbering about the zoo’s meandering paths, and then eagerly pet goats and sheep in the farmyard.—
Susan McDonald,
The Providence Journal,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Black folks have been used as scapegoats for the rising government budgets, and anti-Black stereotypes fueled voters to significantly reduce access to affordable healthcare and educational assistance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Mar. 2026
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Americans are burned-out, frustrated, and hunting for scapegoats.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fall guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20guy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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