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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Last year both the first runner-up Emilia Pérez and second runner-up Anora went on to a collective 19 Oscar nominations between them, both nominated for Best Picture, with Anora winning. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2025

Featuring a cast of fledging performers who became household names — John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd and the list goes on — the show gradually built its reputation. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2025

Noun

There’s even duck boats now, albeit with goons impaled by an anchor and buoy. —Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025

Right-wing slop typically gets a boost in sales from bulk purchases by friendly organizations and supportive, big money goons. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025