scapegoat

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.

When policies fail and public support craters, authoritarian regimes inevitably seek a scapegoat.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

Companies like Amherst and Invitation Homes that buy and then rent single-family homes have become a popular scapegoat for high housing prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Defence lawyer Jason Goss said prosecutors were trying to scapegoat Gonzales, 52, and make him "pay for the pain of that day".

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

A TikTok spokesman told AFP in September that the company "categorically rejects the deceptive presentation" by French MPs, saying it was being made a "scapegoat" for broader societal issues.

From Barron's • Nov. 4, 2025

Of course, Pacheco’s pig in certain ways had become just such a scapegoat, taking up some of the slack created by the Abuelo’s demise.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols