goats

Definition of goatsnext
plural of goat
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

Relevance

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 goats Beyond the shore, rent a Mehari to explore the island's lush interior, where goats roam the mountainside. Nicky Swallow, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026 Goat Fest will feature goats from Allegheny GoatScape, a nonprofit that works to restore balance to landscapes by clearing unwanted vegetation to help the growth of native plants. Finch Walker, USA Today, 15 May 2026 Farah once had 680 goats, but a lack of food and water as well as diseases exacerbated by drought have claimed all but 110 of them, barely clinging to life. ABC News, 13 May 2026 Elsewhere, herds of goats are used to naturally manage undergrowth across the estate’s forests, helping reduce fire risk in the region’s increasingly dry climate. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 12 May 2026 Over the last week, the San Diego Humane Society has removed 446 cats, 30 dogs and dozens of other animals, including goats, alpacas, pigs, ducks, donkeys, geese and chickens from the property in Julian. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026 The trail heads east, passing by a few homes, including one with horses, goats and a couple dogs. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026 Between courses, wander the grounds to visit resident chickens, ducks, goats, and dogs. Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 8 May 2026 Fenced areas and water service for animals like goats and donkeys. David Caraccio may 2, Sacbee.com, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goats
Noun
  • Employing a cast of non-professional locals, the film playfully interrogates the brutal but bungled occupation while also allowing its actors — many of whom are descendants of the fascists’ victims — to reinterpret and reclaim a chapter in their city’s past.
    Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2026
  • Kyiv officials announced a day of mourning on Friday to honor the victims, with national flags at half-mast across the city of three million people.
    Reuters, NBC news, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Sending out the scapegoats in a van advertising unemployed coaches is next-level stuff.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Black folks have been used as scapegoats for the rising government budgets, and anti-Black stereotypes fueled voters to significantly reduce access to affordable healthcare and educational assistance.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Louderback, though, never made excuses or referred to others who might have prevented it from happening.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
  • His excuses ranged from being too cold, to not having his phone or watch on him, to being a chill person who doesn’t like to show up early to the tee.
    Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • In addition to sloths and monkeys, Parque de Aventura is home to wild cats, anteaters, armadillos, and a variety of birds.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
  • The facility was also cited for keeping two monkeys in an enclosure smaller than federal regulations require.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Goats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goats. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on goats

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster