Thesaurus results for FALL GUY

fall guy

noun

Definition of fall guy

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fall guy In real life, Miller takes the ribbing well, happy to be his friend’s fall guy for the purposes of narrative structure. — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 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

And the Santa Ana winds are blowing in September 1981, mentioned in a news report before an announcement of the latest Trawler victim in the season premiere.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
The police investigation was launched following complaints from relatives of the victims of the Gwangju crackdown, which official records say left about 200 people dead.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of victim

Noun

That way, no one has to make an excuse for Malik Nabers going to a Travis Scott concert while in the concussion protocol.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026
At a systems level, autonomy must also be protected through laws, policies, and enforcement so that disability never becomes an excuse to sideline the voices of those most affected.

— Christopher Campos, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of excuse

Noun

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
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

Definition of whipping boy

Noun

In California, where the size and intensity of wildfires have increased, 400 goats and 100 sheep have been deployed in Fresno to graze on yellow star thistle, a weed that can help to spread fires.

— Lea Tran, TheWeek, 29 July 2026
Additional buildings include an equipment barn, cattle and alpaca barns, a chicken coop, and another barn for goats and sheep.

— Mark David, Robb Report, 27 July 2026

Definition of goat

Noun

The article goes on to report that a large body of research and analysis confirms that AI is frequently used as a convenient public scapegoat to justify corporate restructuring, to hide overhiring from previous years, and to appease Wall Street.

— Peter D. Banko, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Beckham became a national scapegoat after that match and was vilified by the British fans and media.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026