1
: a stupid person
2
a
: a man hired to terrorize or eliminate opponents
went on; gone on; going on; goes on
1
2
: to take place : happen
what's going on
3
: to talk especially in an effusive manner
the way people go on about their ancestors—
Hamilton Basso
Hamilton BassoExamples of goon in a Sentence
Noun
He was beat up by a couple of goons.
an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him “brainless goons”
Verb
what in the world is going on in there?
my, but Aunt Betty does go on about all of her aches and pains
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025
According to Human Rights Watch, more than 300 Nicaraguans were killed and 2,000 injured by police and paramilitary goons in anti-government protests in 2018, a huge number for a small country of only six million people.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
Funerals or other events that can’t be postponed, such as baptisms or weddings, that had been scheduled may still go on.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goon
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Noun
She and the hotel company’s goons give him 20 minutes to pack.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025
According to Human Rights Watch, more than 300 Nicaraguans were killed and 2,000 injured by police and paramilitary goons in anti-government protests in 2018, a huge number for a small country of only six million people.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
Today, the nonprofit Outer Banks Conservationists has taken over care of the landmark, making sure its light still goes on nightly.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
Funerals or other events that can’t be postponed, such as baptisms or weddings, that had been scheduled may still go on.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goon
Cite this Entry
“Goon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goon. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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