Synonyms of goat

goat 1 of 2

noun

ˈgōt 

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

• victim
• scapegoat
• excuse
• monkey
• fall guy
• whipping boy
• butt
• fool
• mockery
• mark
• dupe
• laughingstock

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

• raid
• assault
• storm
• attack
• strike
• charge
• rob
• ambush
• sic
• trash
• set at
• swarm
• rush
• invade
• set upon
• pounce (on or upon)
• descend (on or upon)
• sack
• set on
• mob
• turn (on)
• beset
• tear into
• mug
• assail
• round on
• fly at
• surprise
• light into
• bushwhack
• go in (on)
• bomb
• jump (on)
• pitch into
• cannon
• buffet
• plaster
• nuke
• blitz
• loot
• barrage
• flank
• beat up on
• harry
• bum-rush
• pillage
• waylay
• plunder
• bombard
• cannonade
• ravage
• besiege
• batter
• foray
• ambuscade
• press
• envelop
• gang up (on)
• overrun
• beleaguer
• bang away (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cover
• protect
• secure
• defend
• guard
• shield

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• approach
• tackle
• dive (into)
• have at
• address
• attack
• undertake
• wade (in or into)
• face
• sail into
• tear into
• light into
• pursue
• zero (in on)
• focus (on)
• pitch into
• fall (to)
• settle (down)
• buckle (down to)
• concentrate (on)
• knuckle down (to)
• plunge (in)
• take up
• pitch in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• shun
• mess
• evade
• idle
• play
• fool
• trifle
• lag
• monkey (around)
• dally
• dawdle
• poke
• fiddle (around)
• potter (around)
• dillydally
• putter (around)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of goat

Noun

Elephants ramble into gardens and cheetahs kill the occasional goat, but the overall opinion of locals is shifting, especially as the Namibian government signals support for conservation that’s more in step with local interests. — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026

The Livestock Birthing Barn celebrated more than 90 animal births of piglets, goats, calves, lambs and chicks. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026

The exact story of how coffee was discovered isn’t known for sure, but one popular legend says an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi noticed that when his goats ate from a red berry plant, they were infused with energy and stayed awake all night. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Ouma Hettie is an octogenarian goat herder in South Africa’s Kamiesberge. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing goat

• get one's goat