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Recent Examples of scapegoats
In such a situation, scapegoats are needed, and the alien is the ideal one.
—
Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Nations without trust in domestic institutions often turn outward in search of scapegoats.
—Klaus Schwab, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
This time, Nixon was one of several scapegoats for a dismal 22-16 Packers loss.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
There’s also Hank (Stephen Rider) and Veronica Grogan (Amanda Christine), a single Black father and his daughter, who work at the town’s movie theater and become scapegoats in the disappearance of some of the town’s kids.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Orbán has long sought to consolidate his power through concocting scapegoats for Hungary’s ills.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
The hypocrisy of a society continually looking for scapegoats to assign blame while refusing to examine its own dark heart provides a semblance of subtext.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Nations without trust in domestic institutions often turn outward in search of scapegoats.
—Klaus Schwab, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
This time, Nixon was one of several scapegoats for a dismal 22-16 Packers loss.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
There’s also Hank (Stephen Rider) and Veronica Grogan (Amanda Christine), a single Black father and his daughter, who work at the town’s movie theater and become scapegoats in the disappearance of some of the town’s kids.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Orbán has long sought to consolidate his power through concocting scapegoats for Hungary’s ills.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
The hypocrisy of a society continually looking for scapegoats to assign blame while refusing to examine its own dark heart provides a semblance of subtext.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scapegoats
Noun
-
Both victims were under age 5 at the time of the crime, according to the statement.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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Police also said that Marrero did not make payments to the IRS when he was supposed to, which raised his victims' alarms.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The excuses really don’t matter.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
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These things are presented not as potential excuses for the Current’s one-win/two-loss start, but as context around it.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Pet and cuddle sessions are about 35 minutes long and include time with the farm's goats and babies.—
Susan McDonald,
The Providence Journal,
26 Mar. 2026
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Good Growth, which operates the Regenerative Cashmere Initiative in Mongolia, received a donation of $50,000 from Everlane toward its efforts to benefit more than 40 herder families, 8,000 goats and 113,000 acres of grassland.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scapegoats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scapegoats. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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