1
as in idiots
a stupid person
an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him "brainless goons"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thugs
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the crime boss threatened to send the goons after him if he squealed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples 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 goons
Loser Ranger What if the random goons that the Power Rangers fought against actually fought for change?
—
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Loser Ranger, a story that sees one of those random goons secretly infiltrate the series' Power Rangers equivalent to destroy it from the inside.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
This 1961 tale is about Mary Contrary (Annette Funicello), who plans on marrying Tom (Tommy Sands) until the evil Barnaby (Ray Bolger) and his goons kidnap Tom and hatch a plot to steal Mary's inheritance.
—Sydni Ellis, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024
But the Pretty Woman fairy tale swerves tones and genres midway through after his parents dispatch local goons to rein in the situation.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2024
But the truck had been filled with guns by goons, who captured the girl.
—Erica Thompson, TVLine, 20 Oct. 2024
There are no goons in SECURITY jackets, no cops, no city officials checking paperwork and conducting risk assessments.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 18 Oct. 2024
The scene between Daryl and Isabelle—locked up together by Losang’s goons—was nice.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
In a letter distributed by his lawyer, Zambada said his godson’s goons kidnapped him at a resort in suburban Culiacán, tied him up, bundled him into the bed of a pickup, drove him to an airstrip and forced him on the plane.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Loser Ranger, a story that sees one of those random goons secretly infiltrate the series' Power Rangers equivalent to destroy it from the inside.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
This 1961 tale is about Mary Contrary (Annette Funicello), who plans on marrying Tom (Tommy Sands) until the evil Barnaby (Ray Bolger) and his goons kidnap Tom and hatch a plot to steal Mary's inheritance.
—Sydni Ellis, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024
But the Pretty Woman fairy tale swerves tones and genres midway through after his parents dispatch local goons to rein in the situation.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2024
But the truck had been filled with guns by goons, who captured the girl.
—Erica Thompson, TVLine, 20 Oct. 2024
There are no goons in SECURITY jackets, no cops, no city officials checking paperwork and conducting risk assessments.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 18 Oct. 2024
The scene between Daryl and Isabelle—locked up together by Losang’s goons—was nice.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
In a letter distributed by his lawyer, Zambada said his godson’s goons kidnapped him at a resort in suburban Culiacán, tied him up, bundled him into the bed of a pickup, drove him to an airstrip and forced him on the plane.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goons
Noun
-
The regulation, which would require small businesses to disclose the identity of people who directly or indirectly own a control a company, is designed to prevent criminals from hiding illicit activity conducted through shell companies or opaque ownership structures, the Treasury said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
-
But even as the ways criminals use ransomware are set to evolve, the actual makeup of the technology isn’t expected to change too drastically in the coming years.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Worried that this year’s game will begin soon, Gi-hun ups the reward to 1 billion won (around $695,000) and intensifies the search until basically all of Seoul’s gangsters are working for him.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Eventually, the two men — and the small army of gangsters and mercenaries Gi-hun has hired with his massive cash reserves — team up.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
26 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The next big bad in Jared Leto's motley crew of sinister screen villains has finally been announced.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
21 Dec. 2024
-
Monica compiled nine quotes the other villains had said about West, Larsa and New York, and the three of them need to match those quotes to who said them.—
Dana Rose Falcone,
People.com,
20 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Several warring factions exist within the Zone, as well as lone bandits and stalkers.—
Issy van der Velde,
Rolling Stone,
20 Nov. 2024
-
There were also potential issues at Pangong Lake, the location where the bandits are carried by the elephants and find the Mystic in a tree.—
Leila Jordan,
IndieWire,
14 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near goons
Cite this Entry
“Goons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goons. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share