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

Many health workers and other frontline workers in Ituri province have also gone on strike over unpaid salaries, further complicating response efforts in what’s been declared the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. — ABC News, 18 July 2026

Shue went on to star in many films, including Adventures of Babysitting (1987), Back to the Future II (1989), Back to the Future III (1990) and Leaving Las Vegas (1995), for which she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress. — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026

Noun

The best of them is saved for last, and works in spite of the film’s struggle to make its sociopathic main villain (Joey Iwanaga) as interesting as its colorful array of goons. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 12 June 2026

Tamarac But the governor’s goon squad may finally be on to something. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026