Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whipping boy
The Republicans and their puppet master, Donald Trump, are ginning up the machine against immigration and making Mayorkas their whipping boy for chaos at the border.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2024
As head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci has become a standard whipping boy for conservatives pushing back against anti-pandemic restrictions, but few politicians have placed him at the center of their outreach to their political base like DeSantis.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021
When Trump loses, Fox will be a whipping boy.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 6 Nov. 2020
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
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2024
As head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci has become a standard whipping boy for conservatives pushing back against anti-pandemic restrictions, but few politicians have placed him at the center of their outreach to their political base like DeSantis.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021
When Trump loses, Fox will be a whipping boy.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 6 Nov. 2020
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
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Spohr died after being shot once in the head during the burglary at the couple’s Homewood residence on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, the victims’ family has said.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
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If pulled out within 15 minutes, the Utah Avalanche Center says, 93% of avalanche victims live.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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One of the vehicles in the crash was a pickup pulling a trailer carrying more than 30 goats.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
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One of the vehicles was a pickup hauling a gooseneck trailer containing 32 goats, Colorado State Patrol said.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Well, at least that is my excuse for languishing in third place in our predictions challenge behind a six-year-old and the subscribers.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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The younger guys, who may make excuses or shy away when a coach challenges them, will respect what players like Goldstein or senior catcher Gianni Corral have to say.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The concept shared by these two works is the idea that colonial and authoritarian societies are held together through the presence of a scapegoat (The Barbarians) whose existence justifies the need for all the tools a society uses to build and maintain control.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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Seeking a political scapegoat, Texas GOP candidates have wheeled on the state’s growing Muslim population.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whipping boy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whipping%20boy. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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