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 WebAnya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week Us, theweek, 2 Oct. 2024
Sarah’s going to need protection because some corporate goons led by Sam Worthington are out to stop her dumping on the wheat that’s headed to Africa.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2024
Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Create a Schedule With Your Teen Many teens have a lot going on and need a little support with time management.
—Amy Morin, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for goon 
Noun
Following their shotgun wedding, goons sent by Ivan's father show up to pry the couple apart.
—Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week Us, theweek, 2 Oct. 2024
Sarah’s going to need protection because some corporate goons led by Sam Worthington are out to stop her dumping on the wheat that’s headed to Africa.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2024
Verb
So many people experience one mental health crisis, go on medication, and continue to thrive in their personal and professional lives.
—Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Create a Schedule With Your Teen Many teens have a lot going on and need a little support with time management.
—Amy Morin, Parents, 24 Oct. 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 5 Nov. 2024.
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