as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers
dressed up the toddlers like goblins for Halloween
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Recent Examples of goblin
The kallikantzaroi are a group of blind, black goblins who live underground during most of the year sawing at the world tree – a motif throughout various folklores that connects the heavens to the Earth.
—
Carlie Procell, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
On this day, candles were blessed for use in the coming year, and any decorations left up were thought to be at risk of becoming infested with goblins.
—Bobbi Sutherland, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s also a lot of, to use a more modern phrase, goblin energy to these cartoons.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025
There’s a Redwall vibe to the third installment, as fan-favorite rattkin Fern gets carried away on an impromptu adventure involving a chaos-goblin who holds a bounty tempting enough for all the ne’er-do-wells to try and collect on.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goblin
Carlie Procell, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
On this day, candles were blessed for use in the coming year, and any decorations left up were thought to be at risk of becoming infested with goblins.
—Bobbi Sutherland, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s also a lot of, to use a more modern phrase, goblin energy to these cartoons.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025
There’s a Redwall vibe to the third installment, as fan-favorite rattkin Fern gets carried away on an impromptu adventure involving a chaos-goblin who holds a bounty tempting enough for all the ne’er-do-wells to try and collect on.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goblin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goblin
Noun
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Based on the bestseller by Baek Hee-na, the film captures a live stage performance of the story about a young girl who meets a magical elderly fairy in an old neighborhood bathhouse.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
30 Mar. 2026
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Magical fairies are returning to Orlando’s 50-acre botanical oasis this summer, bringing back a tradition that has enthralled visitors of all ages.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The puckish figure draws heavily on Nordic fairy tales, including stories of elves.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
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Not as great of a kids’ parade as the one at Christmas with elves and Santa Claus and toys and snowmen.—
David McGrath,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Dodgers’ $850-million annual revenue dwarfs competitors like the Diamondbacks at $324 million, exemplifying the financial gulf driving owners’ desire for cost controls.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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In a new study published on Monday in the Astrophysical Journal, researchers used computers to simulate the two dwarf galaxies’ 100-million-year-long collision.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Goblin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goblin. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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