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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brain
• genius
• intellect
• sage
• intellectual
• wizard
• thinker
• whiz
• Renaissance man
• polymath
• 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
• offender
• gorilla
• tough
• hooligan
• hood
• mobster
• gangsta
• rowdy
• punk
• roughneck
• gangbanger
• yob
• yobbo
• plug-ugly
• 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of go on

Verb

As time went on, the scents on the test strips began to change. — Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026

Last year, her early paintings of felled trees went on display at The Garden Museum in London. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026

Noun

His goons start the job, but Sang-il sends in one of his best men, Jang Tae-ha, to finish the job. — Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026

One explosive clash with armed goons later, Stuart is in possession of a device that looks more or less like a microwave but has the ability to propel them through different dimensions with the push of a button. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026