scapegoater
One who deflects
A scapegoater is someone who habitually blames others for problems or failures, especially to deflect attention from their own responsibility.
The term derives from scapegoat—originally a goat symbolically burdened with a community's sins.
The manager was a notorious scapegoater, always finding subordinates to blame for missed targets.
One who criticizes constantly
- blamerOne who assigns fault
- denouncerOne who condemns publicly
- accuserOne who alleges wrongdoing
- censurerOne who condemns
critic · persecutor · inquisitor · defamer · vilifier · slanderer · mudslinger · backstabber
Being made to suffer
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- stigmatizationMarking as disgraceful
- demonizationCasting as evil
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
ostracism · marginalization · misattribution · prejudice · discrimination · bias · unfairness · injustice
One blamed for others
- patsyEasily deceived victim
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- sacrificial lambOne offered for others' benefit
- targetObject of pursuit
victim · pariah · outcast · easy mark · punching bag · lightning rod · stooge · dupe
Assigning blame openly
- blame-shiftingAttributing fault to others
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- fault-findingExcessive focus on errors
accusation · misdirection · evasion · denial · excuse-making · shirking · avoidance · cop-out
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
guilt · fault · answerability · burden · imputation · incrimination · exoneration · absolution
faultfinder
One who criticizes constantly
censurer · critic · persecutor · inquisitor · defamer · vilifier · slanderer · mudslinger · backstabber · traducer
victimization
Being made to suffer
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- stigmatizationMarking as disgraceful
- demonizationCasting as evil
vilification · ostracism · marginalization · misattribution · prejudice · discrimination · bias · unfairness · injustice · inequity
fall guy
One blamed for others
- patsyEasily deceived victim
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- sacrificial lambOne offered for others' benefit
target · victim · pariah · outcast · easy mark · punching bag · lightning rod · stooge · dupe
finger-pointing
Assigning blame openly
- blame-shiftingAttributing fault to others
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- deflectionChange in trajectory
fault-finding · accusation · misdirection · evasion · denial · excuse-making · shirking · avoidance · cop-out · rationalization
blame
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
liability · guilt · fault · answerability · burden · imputation · incrimination · exoneration · absolution · vindication
scapegoaterexonerator
One who clears blame
vindicator · defender · protector · advocate · fall guy
- scapegoat ritualCeremony transferring sins symbolically
scapegoat, scapegoating, scapegoats, scapegoated, scapegoatism, scapegoaters