Thesaurus results for SCAPEGOATS

scapegoats

noun

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

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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 Sending out the scapegoats in a van advertising unemployed coaches is next-level stuff. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026 Black folks have been used as scapegoats for the rising government budgets, and anti-Black stereotypes fueled voters to significantly reduce access to affordable healthcare and educational assistance. — Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026 Americans are burned-out, frustrated, and hunting for scapegoats. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026 In such a situation, scapegoats are needed, and the alien is the ideal one. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 Fourth, anger and the search for scapegoats. — David Blumenthal, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026 And while the White House cycled through various scapegoats, prices rose a total of 20 percent, costing families more than $10,000. — Jessica Riedl, Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2026 Nations without trust in domestic institutions often turn outward in search of scapegoats. — Klaus Schwab, Time, 5 Jan. 2026 This time, Nixon was one of several scapegoats for a dismal 22-16 Packers loss. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scapegoats

Noun

Four people with wounds were transported to Hennepin Healthcare to be treated for their injuries, where one of the victims died, Parten said Wednesday afternoon.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
The victims were identified as Michael Newman, 41, and Stephen Scott, 28, reported the Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network.

— Josh Kelly, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of victims

Noun

Replacing a legend is never easy — but in terms of the players at his disposal, Enzo Maresca has no excuses.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
According to the complaint, Gilchrist would sporadically pay back his clients, but would come up with excuses such as government shutdowns and even claiming to be hospitalized to delay payments.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of excuses

Noun

Three baby goats at a North Carolina petting zoo tested positive for rabies, sparking a statewide search for people who interacted with the animals.

— Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026
Public health officials in North Carolina are warning that people who visited a mobile petting zoo between late July and late August may have been exposed to rabies after multiple baby goats tested positive for the virus.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of goats

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scapegoat

scapegoats

scapegrace

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“Scapegoats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scapegoats. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of scapegoats

noun

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