scapegoat

noun

ˈskāp-ˌgōt How to pronounce scapegoat (audio)
Definition of scapegoatnext
as in victim
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 scapegoat Refugee groups said military barracks aren’t the right place to house asylum seekers, but cautioned that migrants should not be made scapegoats. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 Another scapegoat will be the secondary, which allowed over 400 passing yards and three second-half touchdowns from Saints second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. — Christian Romo, Freep.com, 14 Sep. 2026 Mbappe is often the scapegoat at Madrid, with his defensive contribution numbers towards the bottom of the rankings across Europe’s big five domestic leagues last season. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Sara Amundson, president of the Humane World Action Fund, called wolves a scapegoat for broader challenges facing ranchers. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scapegoat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scapegoat
  1. victim
  2. excuse
  3. goat
Noun
  • The victim reported that four teenagers stole their necklace and fled the scene, according to police.
    — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The drama turns on a young woman, victim of spike drinking at a lavish New Year’s Eve party in a remote manor.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of victim
Noun
  • But that cannot be used as an excuse because the Dolphins scored just 13 points in each of the games that Achane finished.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Livia’s unease informs her skepticism of politics; in linking the two, Kingsolver conflates class and culture, using the former as an excuse for what really just seems to be Livia’s constitutional conservatism.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of excuse
Noun
  • Should cabin fever somehow strike, the hotel can arrange adventures further afield, from whale-watching and boat trips along the Costa Del Sol coast to private hikes through the Andalusian mountains and even cheesemaking at a local goat farm.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • North Carolinians recently faced a scare when baby goats at a roaming petting zoo tested positive for rabies.
    — Eva Flowe October 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of goat

Browse Nearby Words

scaped
scapegoat
scapegoats
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Cite this Entry

“Scapegoat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scapegoat. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on scapegoat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scapegoat

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