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

Relevance

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

The victims and the first responders were honored before the game.

— Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
In practice, though, victims of instant-payment fraud often recover little.

— Pawan Jain, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of victim

Noun

Arteta and Arsenal had no need for excuses this time around, though, with Martin Odegaard scoring a late winner after a convincing team performance at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

— Art de Roché, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
That’s not to make excuses, but to put in context, what is also a sputtering, screwball-y film about masculine roles in a waning patriarchal society.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of excuse

Noun

Apparently, this happens all the time because Daisy is Martha’s makeup artist as well as traveling companion, sounding board, and whipping boy.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of whipping boy

Noun

The results confirmed that ancient Egyptians frequently used cow glue, as well as collagens derived from sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, and antelope.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Animal foods included fish, sheep, goats, cattle, boars, birds, hare, and other wild game.

— Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of goat

Noun

Sara Amundson, president of the Humane World Action Fund, called wolves a scapegoat for broader challenges facing ranchers.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Yes, the Algorithm is telling her that using Bernard as a scapegoat will help unify the silo and tamp down the growing unrest.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026