Thesaurus results for WHIPPING BOY

whipping boy

noun

Definition of whipping boy

as in victim

a person or thing taking the blame for others used the government's economic policies as the whipping boy for every bad decision the company made

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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 whipping boy There will always be whipping boys at the World Cup, a team who arrive underprepared or in chaos of some description. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025 Gordie is invisible to his mother and a whipping boy to his father. — Sezin Devi Koehler September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Yet Hojlund only has to look at Scott McTominay and how Conte revitalised his career in Naples after years of being a United whipping boy by some sections of the fan base. — Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Once more, Turkey seems to have become a whipping boy for all manner of interests, some of which have little to do with the realities of Turkey itself. — Hugh Pope, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2010 See All Example Sentences for whipping boy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whipping boy

Noun

Jones said Velasquez and the victim were close friends and lived just a few miles apart.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
Patel arrived in Jakarta shortly after talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet concerning joint efforts to combat international online scam operations that cheat victims out of billions of dollars annually.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026

Definition of victim

Noun

As noted by Variety, some scholars believe the island inspired the location where Homer imagined Odysseus and his crew stopping to roast goats and replenish their supplies.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026
And the whole family can enjoy the new Bleat & Greet experience with the ranch’s baby goats, which includes cuddle and play time with the baby animals plus info about how the goats are cared for each day.

— Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Definition of goat

Noun

Beckham became a national scapegoat after that match and was vilified by the British fans and media.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
The game was a scapegoat for the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, ground zero of America’s ongoing nightmare.

— Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026

Definition of scapegoat

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whipping boy

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“Whipping boy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whipping%20boy. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of whipping boy

noun

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