goat 1 of 2

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

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go at

2 of 2

phrase

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 goat
Noun
To safe his life, his father bought a goat for its milk. J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2025 They are naturally drawn to cloven-hoofed animals like goats and sheep because that's what they have been historically bred for. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025 Some bought scooters, and others invested in goats, said Nguyen Van Thinh, 47, the leader of a club that has 260 members with disabilities. Damien Cave, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025 In the play, a tornado rips through a family farm in Alabama, killing everything and everyone but one woman and her two goats. Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for goat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goat
Noun
  • Newsom holds the ultimate trump card in their case, with the ability to grant clemency to the brothers whose case became a political football and was passed from one district attorney to another, becoming at-risk of becoming a victim of ongoing culture wars.
    Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Reporters, family members of Sigmon's victims and his lawyer will view the execution inside the same building used for all executions over the past 35 years, although prison officials say the glass separating the witness room from the death chamber is now bulletproof.
    CBS News, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In our opinion, Chief Crowley is being made a scapegoat, and she is being terminated for telling the truth.
    Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
  • The Old Testament story of the scapegoat—a goat burdened by human sins and exiled into the wilderness in order to purify the community—inspired Hepburn Ferrer’s latest body of work.
    airmail.news, airmail.news, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • At least juveniles have an excuse: The human brain isn’t fully developed until age 25.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Canada and China have both questioned the Trump administration’s focus on fentanyl, calling it an excuse to issue his tariffs.
    William Gavin, Quartz, 5 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Goat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goat. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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