Synonyms of go on

go on 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to happen

to take place

what in the world is going on in there?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• happen
• come down
• come to pass
• be
• come about
• go down
• occur
• come
• do
• come off
• cook
• spring (up)
• befall
• pass
• hap
• crop (up)
• betide
• shape (up)
• chance
• transpire
• turn out
• rise
• come up
• go off
• fall out
• develop
• arise
• proceed
• materialize
• result
• intervene
• follow
• break

2

as in to ramble

to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point

my, but Aunt Betty does go on about all of her aches and pains

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ramble
• run on
• rattle
• blather (on)
• run one's mouth
• wander
• deviate
• maunder
• stray
• chat
• digress
• sidetrack
• prate
• chatter
• patter
• gab
• waffle
• gibber
• blabber
• burble
• blither
• jabber
• gabble
• prattle
• blab
• drool
• drivel
• bumble

goon

2 of 2

noun

ˈgün 

1

as in idiot

a stupid person

an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him "brainless goons"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• idiot
• moron
• stupid
• lunatic
• dummy
• prat
• loser
• mutt
• fool
• numbskull
• imbecile
• know-nothing
• dolt
• dimwit
• knucklehead
• donkey
• loon
• ignoramus
• jackass
• dullard
• chucklehead
• clown
• oaf
• ninny
• dunce
• cretin
• pinhead
• blockhead
• dunderhead
• simpleton
• dope
• golem
• lunkhead
• stupe
• bonehead
• meathead
• villain
• goof
• doofus
• numskull
• jerk
• hardhead
• dumbhead
• schnook
• nitwit
• natural
• noddy
• airhead
• clunk
• hammerhead
• bubblehead
• ratbag
• dum-dum
• schlub
• fathead
• gander
• dork
• shlub
• dip
• dumb cluck
• dummkopf
• yahoo
• nimrod
• goose
• nincompoop
• noodle
• dumbbell
• half-wit
• dodo
• turkey
• cluck
• nit
• deadhead
• clodpole
• buffoon
• lump
• lamebrain
• saphead
• ninnyhammer
• chowderhead
• cuddy
• loggerhead
• mome
• birdbrain
• thickhead
• madman
• skunk
• clodpoll
• stock
• cuddie
• dim bulb
• clot
• loony
• woodenhead
• booby
• yo-yo
• mug
• creep
• nut
• snake
• zany
• boor
• beast
• gawk
• stinker
• heel
• cur
• cad
• scatterbrain
• churl
• featherbrain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brain
• genius
• intellect
• sage
• intellectual
• wizard
• thinker
• whiz
• Renaissance man
• polymath
• sharpy
• sharpie

2

as in thug

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

• thug
• villain
• gangster
• criminal
• assassin
• bandit
• pirate
• thief
• hoodlum
• ruffian
• bully
• gorilla
• offender
• tough
• hooligan
• hood
• mobster
• gangsta
• rowdy
• punk
• roughneck
• gangbanger
• yob
• yobbo
• plug-ugly
• toughy
• toughie
• scoundrel
• perpetrator
• robber
• mug
• outlaw
• crook
• felon
• brigand
• perp
• mafioso
• cutthroat
• desperado
• highwayman
• racketeer
• vandal
• gunman
• pickpocket
• lawbreaker
• malefactor
• swindler
• bravo
• juvenile delinquent
• tearaway

Examples of go on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Tickets for all shows will go on sale Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. local time. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2024

The pair go on their first date, move in together and marry in Moab, Utah in just under a year. —Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 13 Aug. 2024

Noun

These are life-and-death stakes, sure, but watching Yen zip through the kitchen dispatching goon after goon telegraphs a chaotic joy, with roots in the Great Stone Face bits of the silent era. —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024

His vengeful main character attacks goons with fireworks, platform shoes and all manner of sharp objects in an effort to take on powerful figures and also avenge the murder of his mom. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 June 2024