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Recent Examples of scapegoats
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
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
-
Family members of the shooting victims cried as the sentence was handed down.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Nelson, one of the shooting victims, who was in the passenger seat of the van, fired twice in self-defense before the truck drove away, according to the lawsuit filed by the family against the Police Department.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
My focus will be on restoring dignity through opportunity and ensuring this district has leadership that fights for better outcomes, not excuses.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The policies of different nations allowed Putin to opine on this topic by occupying land and making excuses for his actions.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
All the chickens, turkeys, goats, and pigs carry a certain odor, their makeshift habitat a distinct unsightliness, which disagree with Bruce and his husband Darrell’s more regal tastes.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Ciara is thawing towards West, and getting goats for the party helped, even though one stomped all over Levi’s face.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scapegoats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scapegoats. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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