scapegoated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scapegoated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone who is unfairly blamed for problems or negative outcomes, often to divert attention from the real issues. Example: "In the aftermath of the scandal, the manager was scapegoated by the board to protect the company's reputation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the leafier parts of the semi-rural constituency in south-west Sheffield it is easy to find voters, particularly older people, who are keeping the Lib Dem faith, insisting Clegg is a hard-working local MP who has been unfairly scapegoated by the media.

The Guardian

Citizens from minorities are already being targeted and scapegoated without igniting a national uproar.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many cops are pessimistic: they feel they are scapegoated for social problems ("You're all fucking unreasonable!" exclaims one).

The Economist

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, has demonised and scapegoated Jews, Israel and foreigners, which has isolated Turkey diplomatically and caused American lawmakers to question the US-Turkey relationship.

The Economist

It had "scapegoated" his newspapers, explained Mr Desmond.

The Economist

They felt scapegoated for the recession.

The New York Times

The vile abuse, graffiti and attacks across Europe are sickening; ethnic or religious groups should never be collectively blamed and scapegoated, in times of war or peace.

Independent

Charged with living off immoral earnings and – in Lloyd Webber's view – scapegoated by the establishment for the embarrassment caused, Ward took an overdose of pills and was in a coma when found guilty.

Independent

He was cynically scapegoated by the Americans.' Tam Dalyell Former Linlithgow MP 'Scotland's flag has been seen on TV screens across the world waved by those giving a hero's welcome to a mass murderer.

Independent

Richard Desmond: 12 January The Express Newspapers owner told the Inquiry that his papers were "scapegoated" over their coverage of the McCann case, saying his titles were "the only honest ones and straightforward ones" for the way they printed a front-page apology to the missing girl's parents and paid them £550,000 in a libel settlement.

Independent

Furthermore, if the propaganda fails or is exposed for what it is, the agent can be publicly scapegoated while the real propagandist continues to operate and develop new stratagems.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scapegoated", ensure that the context clearly indicates the unfairness or injustice of the blame being assigned. Provide evidence or reasoning to support the claim that the person or group was wrongly blamed.

Common error

Avoid using "scapegoated" as a default term for blame. Ensure there's a clear disparity between the assigned blame and the actual responsibility of the individual or group. Overusing the term can weaken its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The word "scapegoated" functions as a verb in the past participle form. It describes the action of unfairly blaming someone for problems or negative events, often to deflect responsibility from others. Ludwig's examples show its prevalent use in conveying such unfair blame.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scapegoated" is a versatile verb form used to describe the act of unfairly blaming someone for problems or negative outcomes. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media contexts. To use it effectively, ensure that the unfairness of the blame is evident and supported by context. Consider alternatives like ""unfairly blamed"" or "made a scapegoat" for variety. Avoid overuse without sufficient justification to maintain credibility. By following these guidelines, writers can accurately and powerfully convey the concept of unjust blame with "scapegoated".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfairly blamed

Focuses on the injustice of the blame being placed.

made a scapegoat

Highlights the act of turning someone into a scapegoat.

falsely accused

Emphasizes the incorrectness of the accusation.

unjustly blamed

Similar to unfairly blamed but with a slightly more formal tone.

held responsible unjustly

Highlights the unfair allocation of responsibility.

singled out for blame

Suggests a deliberate focus on one individual or group.

pinned the blame on

Implies an active effort to assign blame.

took the fall

Suggests someone accepted blame to protect others.

was made to answer for

Focuses on being forced to take responsibility.

became the fall guy

An informal way of saying someone was made to take the blame.

FAQs

How to use "scapegoated" in a sentence?

"Scapegoated" is used to describe someone who is unfairly blamed for problems. For example: "The manager was "unfairly blamed" after the project failed".

What can I say instead of "scapegoated"?

You can use alternatives like ""unfairly blamed"", "made a scapegoat", or "falsely accused" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "scapegoated" or "made a scapegoat of"?

Both are correct, but "scapegoated" is a more concise verb form. "Made a scapegoat of" is a longer phrase that conveys the same meaning.

What's the difference between "scapegoated" and "blamed"?

"Blamed" simply means assigning responsibility for something negative. "Scapegoated" implies that the blame is unfair or disproportionate to the person's actual responsibility.