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 BassoExamples 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
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
Hawley waited until the start of the fifth season to lean all the way into the comparison, by borrowing the movie’s inciting incident where a Minnesota Nice housewife is kidnapped by two goons — one hapless, one relentless and seemingly mystical.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
After it was completed in 2011, the London Aquatics Centre went on to serve as one of the main venues for swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming during the 2012 competitions.
—Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goon
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Noun
He’s accompanied by ace assassin, Louie (Gerard Butler, almost unrecognizable), and another goon, Lefty (Louis Cancelmi).
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
Hawley waited until the start of the fifth season to lean all the way into the comparison, by borrowing the movie’s inciting incident where a Minnesota Nice housewife is kidnapped by two goons — one hapless, one relentless and seemingly mystical.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
The primary winner will go on to face Republican James Bowers in the November general election.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
After it was completed in 2011, the London Aquatics Centre went on to serve as one of the main venues for swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming during the 2012 competitions.
—Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goon
Cite this Entry
“Goon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goon. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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