To scapegoat is to blame someone or something for a problem that is actually caused by someone or something else. Sometimes the scapegoat is deliberately chosen, while other times it's just the person who is easiest to blame.
The teacher scapegoated the student for the mistake that was made.
The company scapegoated the worker for the failed project.
noun
someone who is punished for the errors of others
Synonyms:
1
They now need a scapegoat and the scapegoat is the young girl.
2
It was to be a scapegoat for the failure.
3
Brahmins are merely the scapegoats.
4
They became the scapegoats for the incident.
5
The media considered Robertson to be a scapegoat for the incident.
6
The person named would be sacrificed as the scapegoat.
7
The religious imagery of the scapegoat is also considered.
8
Voroshilov is the scapegoat for the initial failures in Finland.
9
Each time the admin was the violator, and lysdexia their scapegoat.
10
The poor goat does look like a scapegoat.