1
as in to happen
to take place
what in the world is going on in there?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
1
as in idiot
a stupid person
an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him "brainless goons"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of go on
Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Ingram agreed to the scheme, and Clemson went on to beat their in-state rivals 7-6 in cold, driving rain.
—Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
From these companies’ perspective, the ideal consumer would do literally nothing but goon, lose at gambling, and maybe watch other people play video games.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for go on
Verb
Powell went on to share another piece of valuable advice that Cruise gave him during their call.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Ingram agreed to the scheme, and Clemson went on to beat their in-state rivals 7-6 in cold, driving rain.
—Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
The two men do eventually join forces, however, once Dante’s goons cross an unforgivable line.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
From these companies’ perspective, the ideal consumer would do literally nothing but goon, lose at gambling, and maybe watch other people play video games.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for go on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for go on
Verb
-
When the pandemic happened, the only way to access live performance was if it was recorded and cast widely.—
Juan A. Ramírez,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Good's defenders – including city and state leaders – are calling what happened an unjustified attack; federal authorities say the agent was acting in self-defense.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mitchell Summers rambled for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, including an 80-yard score, while Jack Snyder threw for 147 yards and a TD while picking up 68 yards on the ground.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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As the agent rambles, the cameras onstage freeze Tullock’s face at unflattering moments, and the screens behind her display a series of grotesques.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Again, Maduro is a socialist thug.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
This is the underworld that Michlewitz and the rest of his thug pals come out of, and will protect at all costs.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The food truck’s hot holding unit clearly wasn’t so hot, either, as a summer afternoon rainstorm of Stop Sales came down on oxtails, pork chop, salmon, macaroni and cheese, grits, raw chicken, raw pork, liquid eggs, raw tilapia, salmon salad, sausage and hot dogs.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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So, survival might come down to her making and selling more star quilts.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Overwhelmingly, though, the most common response was to seek confirmation of their suspicions that Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were morons.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
There are worse things than watching Black, Rudd, and Zahn play three gormless morons on a mid-life misadventure, but almost every scene and setpiece is constructed with a haphazardness that blunders away their charm.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
This year’s furry green villain is more funny than scary, his behavior unthreatening, his confrontational manner with the Whos never feeling particularly dangerous.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
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The cast picture also included Brett Gelman, Priah Ferguson, Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty and Jamie Campbell Bower, the latter who joined the cast in season 4 as the show's villain, Vecna.—
Kelsie Gibson,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Pulling up from the free-throw line with a defender a few feet ahead, Andrews’ midrange jumper rattled inside the basket before popping back out as the buzzer sounded.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
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When shopkeepers in the narrow streets of Tehran’s Grand Bazaar protested the government’s failing economic policies, their chants rattled the regime.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So, the parallel thing that I’ve been frustrated by recently is not just calling Trump stupid, but calling Trump voters stupid.—
Drew Broussard
May 22,
Literary Hub,
22 May 2025
-
Sometimes too stupid is actually smartski but sometimes is just stupid stupid.—
Caroline Downey,
National Review,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Go on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/go%20on. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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