whipping boy

as in victim
a person or thing taking the blame for others used the government's economic policies as the whipping boy for every bad decision the company made

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Examples 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 whipping boy As head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci has become a standard whipping boy for conservatives pushing back against anti-pandemic restrictions, but few politicians have placed him at the center of their outreach to their political base like DeSantis. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021 Still, having his excoriating assessments collected between hard covers makes for a powerful indictment, the more so because Boehner’s book vividly captures the growing horror of a bartender’s kid who evolved from a reflexive Democrat to a Reagan Republican to a tea party whipping boy. Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2021 The weaponization subcommittee’s foremost target will be the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which during Trump’s presidency became a whipping boy for the right, contradicting the GOP’s claim to champion law and order. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 21 Feb. 2023 Jamie, the lawyer, is the resident whipping boy, the black sheep whose ambitions surpass his mettle. Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for whipping boy 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whipping boy
Noun
  • The move drew immediate condemnation from the abuse victims and their attorneys, whose lawsuits were effectively paused while a bankruptcy judge reviewed the church’s finances and assets.
    Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • When asked if the injuries appeared to have come from the victim’s own hunting party or another hunter, Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting responded that more information would be released after the weekend.
    Matt Henson, Twin Cities, 9 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Post-failure, Lumi is the subject of a government inquest, and Pierpoint has to send a representative who will act as the bank’s face and potential fall guy.
    Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2024
  • The school offers bachelor’s, master’s and post-graduate degrees, in Spanish, across most professional fields, as well as a one-year introductory filmmaking course in English and a bilingual stunt academy to train the next generation of fall guys.
    Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2024
Noun
  • Begin the day with a stroll on the animal farm filled with exotic goats, cows, chickens, ducks, and pigs, then enjoy a meal at the Pony Bar Restaurant and Bar just steps away.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Between the lines: Officials said the case was detected in an operation that has a mix of poultry, swine and other livestock, such as sheep and goats.
    Tina Reed, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Even if a more irritable side of her personality has emerged, there’s no excuse for cruelty.
    R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
  • In social situations, redirect the conversation to some other topic (or come up with a polite excuse to exit).
    Angela Haupt, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • The statement is cleverly worded such that the government agencies could be the scapegoat for any delays.
    Richard Bishop, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The truth — which someone should be loudly asserting this election — is that the immigrants are a scapegoat.
    Alex Rivera, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Whipping boy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whipping%20boy. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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