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

Homecoming aside, there’s still the Trawler to worry about, a fact we’re reminded of when another victim turns up on a playground, this time with a pentagram carved into his back and fish corpses shoved into his wounds.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
After Bateman’s September 2022 arrest, his child victims were placed in protective custody.

— Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of victim

Noun

In fact, hot summer days, casual weekends, and low-key outings are the perfect excuse to let the girls breathe.

— Julia Guerra, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026
Save as a collection on MyRecipes Fall brings football tailgates, family dinners, and dozens more excuses to gather.

— Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 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

These were people who would insist that their American passenger ride in the cab of a trade truck rather than stand in the open back with 20 passengers banging into each other and a couple of goats for hours.

— Ethan Gologor, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
Synopsis In a remote Somali pastoral village, 12-year-old boys, Waasuge and Warmooge, spend their days herding goats and playing games.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of goat

Noun

Meanwhile, as Whelan tries to control the situation, he is threatened by blackmail about an affair and later plots to make Slough House a scapegoat for MI5’s failures.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026
So Republicans are desperate for something, anything, anyone — a fall guy, a scapegoat — to rant against, whip up the Republican base against, and raise money for their fall campaigns.

— Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026