1
as in idiots
a stupid person
an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him "brainless goons"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thugs
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
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Recent Examples of goons
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
The goons were sent by Colorado (Bad Bunny, credited as Benito Martínez Octavio, his real name), who turns out to be pretty tough himself.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Nate is alive, but is being experimented upon by Horizen goons in some secret location.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
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
Susan had found Teresa and neutralized the redhead’s would-be rapist/gun runner with a bullet to his frank-and-beans, while Villanueva nearly met his match in one of the gun-running goons.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 27 Mar. 2025
Then Joe’s college-age daughter, Carla (Noemi Gonzalez), is abducted by Russian goons while out celebrating her first semester in business school.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025
These aren’t just your average masked goons.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
The goons were sent by Colorado (Bad Bunny, credited as Benito Martínez Octavio, his real name), who turns out to be pretty tough himself.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Nate is alive, but is being experimented upon by Horizen goons in some secret location.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
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
Susan had found Teresa and neutralized the redhead’s would-be rapist/gun runner with a bullet to his frank-and-beans, while Villanueva nearly met his match in one of the gun-running goons.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 27 Mar. 2025
Then Joe’s college-age daughter, Carla (Noemi Gonzalez), is abducted by Russian goons while out celebrating her first semester in business school.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025
These aren’t just your average masked goons.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goons
Noun
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That's right, thanks to the one and only Taylor Swift for hopping on and deciding to talk with two complete idiots that don't know anything about the music industry.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
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This doesn't mean the Furons are idiots who got lucky, though.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
As night falls, armed thugs roam the streets and families pick up guns to protect themselves.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Lawmakers in many states have changed the rules in recent decades to protect winners from being targeted by criminals and unscrupulous people asking for money.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Her Eco-Age consultancy, targeted by criminals and forced to close in 2024 after 17 years in business, had advised clients on industry developments, changes to government policies and practical guidance on how to avoid greenwashing.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Roman is later gunned down by Hasidic gangsters Lipa (Liev Schreiber) and Shmully (Vincent D’Onofrio), who take Hank hostage.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
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Why couldn’t a child born into a family of gangsters from Newark, New Jersey, be Dante’s reincarnation?—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There are villains in every episode and the story uses them to showcase some societal issues.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Eugene Domingo stars as Mauricia, a disrespected restaurant worker who, while watching soap operas one night, gets sucked through her TV screen into a training academy for villains.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Are there ways that notorious bandits have successfully robbed banks?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Swashbucklers, scoundrels, bandits and buccaneers will soon be bellying up to the bar inside a lively new pirate pub at Walt Disney World that’s already booked solid for the first two months and promises to be a must-have reservation for visitors.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Goons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goons. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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