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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Some analysts argue that while Christians have been targeted by Boko Haram and other Islamist groups seeking to impose their extreme interpretation of Islamic law, Muslims, including those considered moderate, have also been victims of those groups.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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According to the investigators' notes, the victims left a sliding door open on the night of the attack for Goncalves' dog, who was found unharmed in her bed.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Yes, potential excuses exist, such as the Tigers’ switch to Daniels, a senior Stanford transfer whose tremendous performance (353 yards passing and two touchdowns, 89 yards rushing and two touchdowns) demands the question of why Freeze didn’t turn the offense over to him weeks ago.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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No excuses, but there were two reasons for wearing it.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Gordie is invisible to his mother and a whipping boy to his father.—
Sezin Devi Koehler September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
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The man from the city provided goats, yam, fish, palm oil, orogbo, sugar and honey.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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Horses graze in the upper pastures, while the lower fields have housed sheep, goats, and cattle.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Don’t call him a scapegoat; the firing is deserved.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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Some say Batts was innocent, a scapegoat in a drama that turned a ghost story into the tale of the Bell Witch.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fall guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20guy. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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