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
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
He can be seen enjoying Ghosts ’n Goblins, the first entry in an ongoing franchise in which characters in a fantasy kingdom have to defeat a variety of, well, ghosts ’n goblins (and other foes).
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Nov. 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
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
He can be seen enjoying Ghosts ’n Goblins, the first entry in an ongoing franchise in which characters in a fantasy kingdom have to defeat a variety of, well, ghosts ’n goblins (and other foes).
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Nov. 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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Poppies and lupines made surprise appearances in January joining more traditional early bloomers like fairy duster and chuparosa.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
21 Feb. 2026
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Native to Central and South American deserts, fairy castle cactus (Acanthocereus tetragonus ‘Monstrose’) is a night-blooming cereus that produces white flowers in the summer.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The theft follows a similar incident in December, when members of the same group flooded into a Montreal grocery store dressed as Santa Clause and his elves, stealing food and leaving some of it gift-wrapped under a nearby Christmas tree.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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One of Magnason’s first jobs was at the National Archives of Iceland, where he was surrounded by books about the old Norse gods, colonial histories, and even stories about elves.—
Marya E. Gates,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Low-growing dwarf varieties like ‘Goldflame’ feature yellow to orange foliage that complements crepe myrtle’s dark green leaves, while ‘Magic Carpet’ can be planted to form a lush border of hot pink blooms.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
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For smaller yards, consider dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties, such as the disease-resistant Baldwin apple.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Goblin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goblin. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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