Showing results for scapegoats. Search instead for papegojans.

scapegoats

NOUN

person who takes blame for

Synonyms

STRONGEST

fall guy

STRONG

chump doormat dupe fool goat gull mark patsy pigeon pushover sacrifice sap schmuck stooge sucker victim weakling

WEAK

another's action boob easy mark sitting duck

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The temptation to find corporate scapegoats for social ills is great.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Many Angolan journalists and activists strongly contest the idea that the protests weren't organic, and say Angolan authorities might be using the Russians as scapegoats.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Diego Fagúndez, who captained the Galaxy against Houston and scored the team’s only goal Saturday in his 400th MLS appearance, agrees the team needs to stop looking for scapegoats and start looking for solutions.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2025

This ties her to the witches of centuries past, who also served as scapegoats for their villages’ sins.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2025

I should have been cursing the system, but my mom and dad were much more tangible scapegoats.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi