Scapegoat
noun
A person or group blamed for something that is not their fault.
He was made a scapegoat for the company's financial problems.
Often appears as...
- made a scapegoat
- used as a scapegoat
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
In ancient Jewish practices, a goat that was sent into the wilderness after the Jewish chief priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people upon it.
On the Day of Atonement, a scapegoat was chosen and released into the wilderness to carry away the sins of the community.
Often appears as...
- day of atonement
- carry away sins
Usage tips
Neutral
Religious
noun
A person or group blamed for something that is not their fault.
He was made a scapegoat for the company's financial problems.
Often appears as...
- made a scapegoat
- used as a scapegoat
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
In ancient Jewish practices, a goat that was sent into the wilderness after the Jewish chief priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people upon it.
On the Day of Atonement, a scapegoat was chosen and released into the wilderness to carry away the sins of the community.
Often appears as...
- day of atonement
- carry away sins
Usage tips
Neutral
Religious
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Blame Transfer
Used when someone transfers blame to avoid responsibility or discredit others.
Despite his mistakes, he looked for a scapegoat to pin the failure on.
Pro Tip 2/3Unjust Treatment
Highlights the unjust nature of blaming a scapegoat; they are not truly at fault.
She felt like a scapegoat when blamed for the project’s delay, which she didn't cause.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
Often involves power imbalance; those with less power are more likely to be scapegoats.
As an intern, he was an easy scapegoat for the missing reports.
Pro Tip 1/3Blame Transfer
Used when someone transfers blame to avoid responsibility or discredit others.
Despite his mistakes, he looked for a scapegoat to pin the failure on.
Pro Tip 2/3Unjust Treatment
Highlights the unjust nature of blaming a scapegoat; they are not truly at fault.
She felt like a scapegoat when blamed for the project’s delay, which she didn't cause.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
Often involves power imbalance; those with less power are more likely to be scapegoats.
As an intern, he was an easy scapegoat for the missing reports.
Pro Tip 1/3Blame Transfer
Used when someone transfers blame to avoid responsibility or discredit others.
Despite his mistakes, he looked for a scapegoat to pin the failure on.
Pro Tip 2/3Unjust Treatment
Highlights the unjust nature of blaming a scapegoat; they are not truly at fault.
She felt like a scapegoat when blamed for the project’s delay, which she didn't cause.
Pro Tip 3/3Power Dynamics
Often involves power imbalance; those with less power are more likely to be scapegoats.
As an intern, he was an easy scapegoat for the missing reports.
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Video examples
Rives: The Museum of...
Those were all really solid examples. They did not get me any closer to understanding why I thought I recognized this one particular poem. But they followed the pattern. They played along. Right? Four in the morning as this scapegoat hour when all these dramatic occurrences allegedly occur. Maybe this was some kind of cliche
Video examples
The path to ending...
One of the things I'm most worried about, and have been worried about since the beginning, what I've been talking to our chiefs about, is say, you must be out of the social distancing policing game. You can't be the ones doing that, and the reason is We're in a moment where creating scapegoats and enemies and others
Video examples
How did Hitler rise to...
Hitler took advantage of the people's anger, offering them convenient scapegoats and a promise to restore Germany's former greatness. Mainstream parties proved unable to handle the crisis while left-wing opposition was too fragmented by internal squabbles.
Video examples
What really happened...
But ultimately, the reason for their behavior is unknown. What we do know is that adults accepted wild accusations by children as hard evidence. Today, the Salem Witch Trials remain a cautionary tale of the dangers of groupthink and scapegoating,
Video examples
Nirvana in the Nineties...
as they're labeled in the media become a rock and roll soap opera I guess like my ego could be talking right now and I could say well we're interesting people you know but I think we're just easy scapegoats we were hounded by Department of
Video examples
They Impaled Themselves...
celebration as well but that's not uncommon there are lots of rituals around the world that combine pain and danger with celebration singing joy and so forth the objects chosen by the scapegoats for piercing are symbolic of
Video examples
Jim & Jamie Dutcher: The...
is known as the Omega in the Sawtooth pack lakota held this position for many years now the Omega must constantly submit to his fellow pack members as he's often dominated by them and treated as a scapegoat Lakota
Video examples
How American and Chinese...
Basically, someone who is responsible in a slang Chinese is someone who carries a black wok. You are made to be the scapegoat for something that is bad.
Video examples
“Boom Boom”, “Life is...
is coming as long as you believe help is coming for us to be ready for us to be renew your we serve you for the scapegoat like
Video examples
Anand Giridharadas: A...
Everyone wonders about the next plane. People are looking for scapegoats. The president, the night before, pledges to
Video examples
Rives: The Museum of...
Those were all really solid examples. They did not get me any closer to understanding why I thought I recognized this one particular poem. But they followed the pattern. They played along. Right? Four in the morning as this scapegoat hour when all these dramatic occurrences allegedly occur. Maybe this was some kind of cliche
Video examples
The path to ending...
One of the things I'm most worried about, and have been worried about since the beginning, what I've been talking to our chiefs about, is say, you must be out of the social distancing policing game. You can't be the ones doing that, and the reason is We're in a moment where creating scapegoats and enemies and others
Video examples
How did Hitler rise to...
Hitler took advantage of the people's anger, offering them convenient scapegoats and a promise to restore Germany's former greatness. Mainstream parties proved unable to handle the crisis while left-wing opposition was too fragmented by internal squabbles.
Video examples
What really happened...
But ultimately, the reason for their behavior is unknown. What we do know is that adults accepted wild accusations by children as hard evidence. Today, the Salem Witch Trials remain a cautionary tale of the dangers of groupthink and scapegoating,
Video examples
Nirvana in the Nineties...
as they're labeled in the media become a rock and roll soap opera I guess like my ego could be talking right now and I could say well we're interesting people you know but I think we're just easy scapegoats we were hounded by Department of
Video examples
They Impaled Themselves...
celebration as well but that's not uncommon there are lots of rituals around the world that combine pain and danger with celebration singing joy and so forth the objects chosen by the scapegoats for piercing are symbolic of
Video examples
Jim & Jamie Dutcher: The...
is known as the Omega in the Sawtooth pack lakota held this position for many years now the Omega must constantly submit to his fellow pack members as he's often dominated by them and treated as a scapegoat Lakota
Video examples
How American and Chinese...
Basically, someone who is responsible in a slang Chinese is someone who carries a black wok. You are made to be the scapegoat for something that is bad.
Video examples
“Boom Boom”, “Life is...
is coming as long as you believe help is coming for us to be ready for us to be renew your we serve you for the scapegoat like
Video examples
Anand Giridharadas: A...
Everyone wonders about the next plane. People are looking for scapegoats. The president, the night before, pledges to
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Faith Prince
American Actress
I'll tell you something: my dad was a nuclear engineer and he was really bright, and I've always said that because of negotiating at such a young age with my dad, it was really such a gift because I could then negotiate with very difficult personalities - and not end up being the scapegoat. I learned to really pick and choose my battles.
Quote examples
Martha Nussbaum
American Philosopher
When we feel helpless later in life, fear makes us scapegoat others. Instead of fixing the problems, we say, 'Oh, it's all their fault - those women or immigrants are infesting our country.' Rather than useful protest or constructive solutions, we get angry at these handy targets.
Quote examples
Rachel Dolezal
American Activist
I'm this generic, ambiguous scapegoat for white people to call me a race traitor and take out their hostility on. And I'm a target for anger and pain about white people from the black community. It's like I am the worst of all these worlds.
Quote examples
Jamie Dimon
American Businessman
If business doesn't thrive, it hurts America. We need improved relations, more collaboration, more thought and more consistency as we go about trying to make sure we have the best country in the world. Not scapegoating and finger-pointing.
Quote examples
Ice Cube
American Musician
I think rap music is brought up, gangster rap in particular, as well as video games, every other thing they try to hang the ills of society on as a scapegoat.
Quote examples
Jonathan Davis
American Musician
Some people are desperately looking for scapegoats, they just don't want to see the truth!
Quote examples
D. B. Sweeney
American Actor
I think Joe Jackson is a great American figure. In my opinion, he became a scapegoat.
Quote examples
Jahlil Okafor
American Athlete
I definitely feel like I'm the scapegoat for a lot of The Process issues.
Quote examples
Rene Girard
French Historian
A scapegoat remains effective as long as we believe in its guilt.
Quote examples
Ernest Bevin
British Public Servant
Unintelligent people always look for a scapegoat.
Quote examples
Faith Prince
American Actress
I'll tell you something: my dad was a nuclear engineer and he was really bright, and I've always said that because of negotiating at such a young age with my dad, it was really such a gift because I could then negotiate with very difficult personalities - and not end up being the scapegoat. I learned to really pick and choose my battles.
Quote examples
Martha Nussbaum
American Philosopher
When we feel helpless later in life, fear makes us scapegoat others. Instead of fixing the problems, we say, 'Oh, it's all their fault - those women or immigrants are infesting our country.' Rather than useful protest or constructive solutions, we get angry at these handy targets.
Quote examples
Rachel Dolezal
American Activist
I'm this generic, ambiguous scapegoat for white people to call me a race traitor and take out their hostility on. And I'm a target for anger and pain about white people from the black community. It's like I am the worst of all these worlds.
Quote examples
Jamie Dimon
American Businessman
If business doesn't thrive, it hurts America. We need improved relations, more collaboration, more thought and more consistency as we go about trying to make sure we have the best country in the world. Not scapegoating and finger-pointing.
Quote examples
Ice Cube
American Musician
I think rap music is brought up, gangster rap in particular, as well as video games, every other thing they try to hang the ills of society on as a scapegoat.
Quote examples
Jonathan Davis
American Musician
Some people are desperately looking for scapegoats, they just don't want to see the truth!
Quote examples
D. B. Sweeney
American Actor
I think Joe Jackson is a great American figure. In my opinion, he became a scapegoat.
Quote examples
Jahlil Okafor
American Athlete
I definitely feel like I'm the scapegoat for a lot of The Process issues.
Quote examples
Rene Girard
French Historian
A scapegoat remains effective as long as we believe in its guilt.
Quote examples
Ernest Bevin
British Public Servant
Unintelligent people always look for a scapegoat.
Example 1 of 10
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