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What do we call "a person who blames others for things they didn't do"?

I searched on the web, and found the word "blamer". I know what it means, and I don't find it fits the definition I wrote.

Update: It can mean "false accusation" and/or "When somebody says that another did something (wrong) when they haven't".

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3 Answers 3

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There is a related word, scapegoat, which means:

scapegoat (noun) A person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency.

From this word, we have the word scapegoater, which means:

scapegoater one that makes a scapegoat of something or somebody

While scapegoat is fairly common in the vernacular, I think scapegoater is a less common word. However, it fits what you are looking for.

Here's a usage of it in print:

Tolerance and independent thinking are essential to a democratic form of government, but the scapegoater cannot think straight.

(Charles Henry Scherf, Do You Own Thinking, 1946)

Another book about hostilities in the workplace says:

A scapegoater is one who transfers blame to persons or groups, who are not necessarily guilty, in order to focus attention away from those who are actually responsible — sometimes from themselves.

(J.A. Wambach & R.W. Fuller, Battles between somebodies and nobodies: stop abuse of rank at work and at home, 2008)

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  • Tasneem: I'm glad you like this answer, but you should wait a little longer before accepting. Here's why.
    – J.R.
    Aug 19, 2018 at 21:02
  • Ok, I will wait. And, I will read the article. Thank you for the answer, by the way. Aug 19, 2018 at 21:04
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I found imputer.

Noun[edit]

imputer (plural imputers)

One who imputes.

Impute, as a verb, means:

  1. to attribute or ascribe (something dishonest or dishonourable, esp a criminal offence) to a person

Note: I am not a native speaker, so I can't comment on how commonly it's used.

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  • It's an obscure word – but so is the word that I proffered. It's still a good find, though.
    – J.R.
    Aug 20, 2018 at 10:37
  • I’ve never heard “impute” outside a legal context, and I’ve never heard “imputer” at all, though I’d figure out what it meant.
    – StephenS
    Sep 5, 2020 at 18:24
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It's also called framing or malicious slander. Malicious slander is the attempt to discredit someone. You can be sued for doing so.

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