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
And the cameo by the real fall guy left me elated.
—
Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
National security adviser Michael Waltz emerges as a potential fall guy in the Signal group chat fallout.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 27 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
Watching England as a non-white person can come with the fear that with many of the national team’s historic defeats comes a fall guy.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 8 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for fall guy
Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
National security adviser Michael Waltz emerges as a potential fall guy in the Signal group chat fallout.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 27 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
Watching England as a non-white person can come with the fear that with many of the national team’s historic defeats comes a fall guy.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 8 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for fall guy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall guy
Noun
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The firefighter victims in the attack were identified at the news conference.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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Tulsa firefighter-medics were ambushed and shot at earlier this month while treating a victim in Oklahoma, Tulsa Fire Chief Michael Baker said on KOTV-News.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
1 July 2025
Noun
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For the artist, every appearance is an excuse to adorn herself with beautiful pieces.—
Jessica Scemama,
Glamour,
6 July 2025
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National French Fry Day is observed on July 11, and this is a great excuse to try fries in some unexpected and delicious new ways.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Noun
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On Tuesday Bayern Munich takes on Benfica and Boca Juniors faces whipping boys Auckland City.—
Joseph O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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Once more, Turkey seems to have become a whipping boy for all manner of interests, some of which have little to do with the realities of Turkey itself.—
Hugh Pope,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Oct. 2010
Noun
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The restaurant has a small ranch where customers can observe a variety of exotic animals, such as Amazon cockatoos, fainting goats and the koi fish, said Silvia Duarte, who owns the business with her husband.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
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There is a 70-acre farm with hay, fresh eggs, and a handful of animals, including donkeys, goats, horses and ducks.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
7 June 2025
Noun
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There are plenty of scapegoats: The Senate’s arcane rules, or members who want to go on recess.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
26 June 2025
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Across Florida and throughout the United States, a dangerous narrative is gaining ground, one that paints immigrants as threats, strangers and scapegoats for every social and economic ill.—
Maria Revelles,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fall guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20guy. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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