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
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Recent Examples of goats
Agriculture science teacher Katie McMahon oversees 59 students plus alpacas, cows, ducks, goats, chickens and horses.
—
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Around 600 goats are grazing the Arroyo Seco, helping to reduce fire-prone vegetation across 100 acres in Pasadena's natural parkland.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Vineyards are interwoven with orchards, grazing areas, and native vegetation, while Kiko goats help manage undergrowth and Great Pyrenees dogs protect the property.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
As part of the Great Exchange, which spanned from 1492 to 1640, Europeans brought over cows, sheep, and goats.
—Karla Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
The Eagle city code covering animal husbandry does not regulate the number or type of livestock on properties so long as the animals are not being kept for profit, such as by keeping goats for selling cheese.
—Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026
Ingestion by cows, goats, and horses can cause burning of the mouth, abdominal pain, vomiting, hypersalivation, and bloody diarrhea.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Tour properties include dramatic subtropical and desert landscaping, a front yard devoted entirely to succulents, kinetic metal and mosaic art, resident goats and a stop with 17 fruit trees alongside proteas and exotic succulents.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The safari park, known for its adorable one-on-one encounters, also has a petting zoo full of goats, otters, sheep, cows and lemurs.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Around 600 goats are grazing the Arroyo Seco, helping to reduce fire-prone vegetation across 100 acres in Pasadena's natural parkland.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Vineyards are interwoven with orchards, grazing areas, and native vegetation, while Kiko goats help manage undergrowth and Great Pyrenees dogs protect the property.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
As part of the Great Exchange, which spanned from 1492 to 1640, Europeans brought over cows, sheep, and goats.
—Karla Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
The Eagle city code covering animal husbandry does not regulate the number or type of livestock on properties so long as the animals are not being kept for profit, such as by keeping goats for selling cheese.
—Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026
Ingestion by cows, goats, and horses can cause burning of the mouth, abdominal pain, vomiting, hypersalivation, and bloody diarrhea.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Tour properties include dramatic subtropical and desert landscaping, a front yard devoted entirely to succulents, kinetic metal and mosaic art, resident goats and a stop with 17 fruit trees alongside proteas and exotic succulents.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The safari park, known for its adorable one-on-one encounters, also has a petting zoo full of goats, otters, sheep, cows and lemurs.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goats
Noun
-
An Urban Pathways spokeswoman expressed condolences to the victims and their families in a statement.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
The move follows mounting pressure from state leaders and victims’ families to keep the camp closed as multiple criminal and civil investigations remain underway.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
1 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
-
Venus and Saturn make this full moon the right time to finally take a look at your figures without excuses.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Yet both Piker and Tolentino move from discussing nonlethal crimes of nuisance and destruction to making excuses for murder.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Although local officials routinely feed the monkeys at the Mediterranean destination seeds, fruits, and vegetables, visitors to the area are known to offer the monkeys snack foods, including chips, candy, and even ice cream.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The dirt eating was widespread, with males and females from different groups of monkeys partaking during multiple times of the year, and was generally associated with areas where there were more tourists.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Goats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goats. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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