1
: a stupid person
2
a
: a man hired to terrorize or eliminate opponents
went on; gone on; going on; goes on
1
2
: to take place : happen
what's going on
3
: to talk especially in an effusive manner
the way people go on about their ancestors—
Hamilton Basso
Hamilton BassoSynonyms
Noun
- airhead
- birdbrain
- blockhead
- bonehead
- bubblehead
- chowderhead
- chucklehead
- clodpoll
- clodpole
- clot [British]
- cluck
- clunk
- cretin
- cuddy [British dialect]
- cuddie
- deadhead
- dim bulb [slang]
- dimwit
- dip
- dodo
- dolt
- donkey
- doofus [slang]
- dope
- dork [slang]
- dullard
- dum-dum
- dumbbell
- dumbhead
- dummkopf
- dummy
- dunce
- dunderhead
- fathead
- gander
- golem
- goof
- half-wit
- hammerhead
- hardhead
- idiot
- ignoramus
- imbecile
- jackass
- know-nothing
- knucklehead
- lamebrain
- loggerhead [chiefly dialect]
- loon
- lump
- lunkhead
- meathead
- mome [archaic]
- moron
- mug [chiefly British]
- mutt
- natural
- nimrod [slang]
- nincompoop
- ninny
- ninnyhammer
- nit [chiefly British]
- nitwit
- noddy
- noodle
- numskull
- numbskull
- oaf
- pinhead
- prat [British]
- ratbag [chiefly Australian]
- saphead
- schlub [slang]
- shlub
- schnook [slang]
- simpleton
- stock
- stupe
- stupid
- thickhead
- turkey
- woodenhead
- yahoo
- yo-yo
Verb
Examples of goon in a Sentence
Noun
He was beat up by a couple of goons.
an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him “brainless goons”
Verb
what in the world is going on in there?
my, but Aunt Betty does go on about all of her aches and pains
Recent Examples on the WebLovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2024
To be a goon or gooner is to be an exaggerator of pleasure, but whether that sensual rapture is a performance or something done sincerely without inhibition can vary between gooners.
—Quispe López, Them, 5 Sep. 2024
Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2024
Joan, meanwhile, follows Game of Thrones star Turner as a devoted mother trapped in a violent relationship who seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her daughter when her husband goes on the run.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for goon 
Noun
Rami thinks Shirley’s family is behind the vague warnings he’s been receiving, while Shirley believes Rami has sent goons to coerce her.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2024
To be a goon or gooner is to be an exaggerator of pleasure, but whether that sensual rapture is a performance or something done sincerely without inhibition can vary between gooners.
—Quispe López, Them, 5 Sep. 2024
Verb
Tickets for the Milwaukee concert go on sale at noon Friday at the box office (1111 N. Phillips Ave.) and fiservforum.com.
—Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2024
Joan, meanwhile, follows Game of Thrones star Turner as a devoted mother trapped in a violent relationship who seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her daughter when her husband goes on the run.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for goon
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'goon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near goon
Cite this Entry
“Goon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goon. Accessed 22 Sep. 2024.
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