goat 1 of 2

noun

ˈgōt How to pronounce goat (audio)
Definition of goatnext
as in victim
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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go at

2 of 2

phrase

1
as in raid
to take sudden, violent action against He went at his opponent with such fervor, the fight was practically over before it began.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in approach
to start work on energetically She went at that project with such enthusiasm, you could tell it was a labor of love.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of goat
Noun
But the army came and took me and arrested me and left the settlers there to break the gate to the well and allow their goats to drink from it. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Over the years, O'Neal has hunted everything from waterfowl to wild boar and goats. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Phrase
The Eagles and Patriots went at it the past couple of days, even though both coaches warned their teams to abstain before the practice sessions. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Two of the top quarterbacks in Central Florida went at it Friday night at Bishop Moore. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for goat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goat
  1. victim
  2. have at
  3. scapegoat
  4. excuse
Noun
  • Homecoming aside, there’s still the Trawler to worry about, a fact we’re reminded of when another victim turns up on a playground, this time with a pentagram carved into his back and fish corpses shoved into his wounds.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • After Bateman’s September 2022 arrest, his child victims were placed in protective custody.
    — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of victim
Phrase
  • And their regular ports have at times sat idle, thanks to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
  • One respondent would require that agents have at least a two-year college degree.
    — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of have at
Noun
  • Yes, the Algorithm is telling her that using Bernard as a scapegoat will help unify the silo and tamp down the growing unrest.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence in a Texas federal prison camp, had argued she was selectively prosecuted as a scapegoat, but the judge dismissed those claims as frivolous.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of scapegoat
Noun
  • While the sun sets earlier and earlier, there’s no better excuse to unplug, curl up and turn the page.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • That obviously makes Labor Day a particularly good excuse to mix a cocktail that squeezes a little more out of summer.
    — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of excuse

Phrases Containing goat

Browse Nearby Words

goals
goat
go at
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Cite this Entry

“Goat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goat. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on goat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about goat

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