as in victims
a person or thing taking the blame for others
an unhappy childhood was the goat he used to rationalize every failure and shortcoming
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of goats
Several dead animals, including cats, rabbits, pigs and goats, were found at that location.
—
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Until this year Chablé’s programming largely focused on adults but anew farm space presents kid-friendly introductions to farming and gardening and includes a petting zoo with especially social pigs, goats, rabbits, and miniature horses and burros.
—John Newton, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
Irresistible workers Dallas has used grazing goats before in other parts of the city, but this project is expected to draw plenty of attention with its high-traffic location and irresistible cast.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
The term is also used for baby goats.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Herding frightened goats might be an easier task than tracking down a player of interest who isn’t planted at a podium.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The alpine pastureland is home to herds of goats and cows and small families of shepherds who have worked the land for lifetimes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2026
Solis said the leaves are generally utilized in cooking, clothing and animal feed, the latter particularly for goats.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Along with the many groundhogs, the winter forecasts were credited to an armadillo, ostriches, and Nigerian dwarf goats.
—Mark Scolforo, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Until this year Chablé’s programming largely focused on adults but anew farm space presents kid-friendly introductions to farming and gardening and includes a petting zoo with especially social pigs, goats, rabbits, and miniature horses and burros.
—John Newton, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
Irresistible workers Dallas has used grazing goats before in other parts of the city, but this project is expected to draw plenty of attention with its high-traffic location and irresistible cast.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
The term is also used for baby goats.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Herding frightened goats might be an easier task than tracking down a player of interest who isn’t planted at a podium.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The alpine pastureland is home to herds of goats and cows and small families of shepherds who have worked the land for lifetimes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2026
Solis said the leaves are generally utilized in cooking, clothing and animal feed, the latter particularly for goats.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Along with the many groundhogs, the winter forecasts were credited to an armadillo, ostriches, and Nigerian dwarf goats.
—Mark Scolforo, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goats
Noun
-
Family members of the shooting victims cried as the sentence was handed down.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Nelson, one of the shooting victims, who was in the passenger seat of the van, fired twice in self-defense before the truck drove away, according to the lawsuit filed by the family against the Police Department.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Nations without trust in domestic institutions often turn outward in search of scapegoats.—
Klaus Schwab,
Time,
5 Jan. 2026
-
This time, Nixon was one of several scapegoats for a dismal 22-16 Packers loss.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Stop making excuses, show some leadership and act like a governor, Maura Healey.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
No matter the schedule, no matter who’s out, there are no excuses.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Portraying Black people as monkeys or apes is a racist trope with historical roots in eugenics.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
-
There are no snakes, no venomous spiders, no large predators like wild cats or monkeys, and no scorpions.—
James Barrett,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Goats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goats. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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