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Sündenbock: scapegoat — meaning and examples | JadoLearn

DictionarySündenbock

Quality-approved learning entrynounLevel C1

Sündenbock

scapegoat

a person or group unfairly blamed for failures or problems caused by others

IPA/ˈzʏndn̩ˌbɔk/

Primary stress is on Sün-, with secondary stress on -bock.

Meaning 1neutral · 90%

a person or group unfairly blamed for failures or problems caused by others

Nach dem Projektfehler wurde ein einzelner Entwickler zum Sündenbock gemacht.

Die Opposition warnte davor, Migranten zum Sündenbock für strukturelle Probleme zu machen.

Sie weigerte sich, für die Fehler der gesamten Abteilung den Sündenbock zu spielen.

The word is strongly figurative and often criticizes unfair blame shifting.

— to make someone a scapegoat

jemanden zum Sündenbock machen

Use Sündenbock when one person or group is made responsible for a broader failure, especially unfairly.

Choose one answer.

Which sentence uses Sündenbock correctly?

The word is strongly figurative and often criticizes unfair blame shifting.