This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn more

Scapegoat synonyms

Sorting by
Votes
substitute
(Gram.) Any word or word group, as a pronoun, the verb to do, etc., used in place of another word or words (Ex.: did for shouted in “she shouted, and he did, too”)
0
0
  1. (Gram.) Any word or word group, as a pronoun, the verb to do, etc., used in place of another word or words (Ex.: did for shouted in “she shouted, and he did, too”)
sacrifice
The act of offering the life of a person or animal, or some object, in propitiation of or homage to a deity
0
0
  1. The act of offering the life of a person or animal, or some object, in propitiation of or homage to a deity
  2. The act of giving up something highly valued for the sake of something else considered to have a greater value or claim:
  3. (Baseball) A sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly
dupe
A person who has been deceived.
0
0
  1. A person who has been deceived.
  2. (Restaurant industry) A duplicate of an order receipt printed for kitchen staff.
  3. A person who is easily deceived or is used to carry out the designs of another.
goat
Any of various wild ruminant mammals of the genus Capra and related genera, including the ibexes and the wild goat (C. aegagrus) of Eurasia.
0
0
  1. Any of various wild ruminant mammals of the genus Capra and related genera, including the ibexes and the wild goat (C. aegagrus) of Eurasia.
  2. A domesticated ruminant mammal (Capra hircus) having backward curving horns and a beard especially in the male, raised for its wool, milk, and meat.
  3. Any of a genus (Capra) of wild or domesticated bovid ruminants with hollow horns
whipping boy
A scapegoat.
0
0
  1. A scapegoat.
  2. A boy formerly raised with a prince or other young nobleman and whipped for the latter's misdeeds.
  3. (Historical) A boy brought up together with a young prince and required to take the punishment for the latter's misdeeds
fall guy
A gullible victim; a dupe.
0
0
  1. A gullible victim; a dupe.
  2. One who is gullible and easily duped
  3. (Slang) A person made to or left to face the consequences, as of a scheme that has miscarried
patsy
(Slang) A person easily imposed upon or victimized
0
0
  1. (Slang) A person easily imposed upon or victimized
  2. A person easily taken advantage of, cheated, blamed, or ridiculed.
  3. A diminutive of the male given name Patrick.
Find another word for scapegoat. In this page you can discover 9 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for scapegoat, like: substitute, sacrifice, dupe, victim, goat, whipping boy, fall guy, patsy and praise.

Sentence Examples

  • Three main forms of human sacrifice existed in this area: (I) the scapegoat; (2) the messenger; and (3) the expiation, but combinations were not infrequent.

  • The Iroquois sacrifice of the white dog bore in later times the character of a scapegoat festival; but it is doubtful how far this was an original feature.

  • Old Maid is also known as a "scapegoat" card game, in which you try to not have a particular card in your hand.

  • It is equally impossible to give a general survey of the purposes of sacrifice; not only are they too numerous but it is rare to find any but mixed forms; the scapegoat, for example, is also a messenger to the dead, and its flesh is eaten by the sacrificers.

  • no anger was felt; the zealous prior, the prophet and lawgiver of Florence, was made the popular scapegoat.

More sentences →

Words that mention scapegoat in the Dictionary

Words near scapegoat in the Thesaurus