scapegoats

plural of scapegoat
as in victims
a person or thing taking the blame for others companies often use the economy as a scapegoat to avoid taking responsibility for dropping sales

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 scapegoats 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
  • The first arriving engine found one of the victims had been trapped under the helicopter, Sylvia said.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The three victims' deaths were ruled accidental, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Restoring trust means delivering results, not excuses, through mandatory ethics training for all city staff to ensure accountability.
    Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
  • But no more excuses—for me or for you.
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In 2024, Stemshorn was fostering a kitten, Muffin, and just taken in two baby boy goats, Baxter and Archie, into her farm.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In 2010, the University of Georgia brought in goats to control an invasive plant overtaking a section of campus.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scapegoats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scapegoats. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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