goon

1 of 2

noun

ˈgün 

1

: a stupid person

2

a

: a man hired to terrorize or eliminate opponents

b

: enforcer sense 2b

go on

2 of 2

verb

went on; gone on; going on; goes on

intransitive verb

1

a

: to continue on or as if on a journey

life goes on

went on to greater things

b

: to keep on : continue

went on smoking

c

: proceed

went on to win the election

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

Synonyms

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

• be
• befall
• betide
• chance
• come
• come about
• come down
• come off
• cook
• do
• go down [slang]
• hap
• happen
• occur
• pass
• transpire

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 Web

Noun

Benjamin Bratt’s Cliff was a great low-level threat in season one, but the goons feel a little too cartoonish to rely on regularly. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 May 2025

One of Kate’s goons injects him with whatever makes people lose consciousness instantly on these shows — a key Rx in the Inviolable Rules of Television Health and Medicine cabinet! —Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025

Verb

Since the series ended, the actors have gone on to star in Marvel movies, 'Mission: Impossible' and the upcoming 'It' prequel series Comments It's been 10 years, but fans are still seeking Revenge. —Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 10 May 2025

Following her loss to Nunes, Shevchenko dropped to 125 pounds and went on one of the most impressive runs in the history of the UFC women’s divisions. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably short for English dialect gooney simpleton

First Known Use

Noun

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for goon

• boon
• brune
• coon
• croon
• dune
• hewn
• hoon
• june
• loon
• moon
• noon
• poon

Kids Definition

goon

1 of 2 noun

ˈgün 

1

: a stupid person

2

: a person hired to terrorize or beat up or kill opponents

go on

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to continue on or as if on a journey

life goes on

b

: to keep on : continue

went on talking

2

: to take place : happen

what's going on