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
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Recent Examples of goons
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
At one point, one of Quinn’s goons discovers that Reacher isn’t on the up-and-up so Reacher kills him and is forced to come back later and dispose of the body.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
His goons kidnap Laura, Brian, and Dexter and take them to the shipping container that’s always served as the darkest element of Dex’s origin story.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Our heroes go toe-to-toe with Monroe’s goons, led by Solomon (Berto Colon) as well as a terrorist group led by the dastardly Markus (Michael Malarkey) and his reluctant cousin, Tomas (Rob Heaps).
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
After Peter and Rose escape from the goons and return to his place, Rose stays up all night putting Warren through her scary algorithm.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2025
Loser Ranger What if the random goons that the Power Rangers fought against actually fought for change?
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
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
At one point, one of Quinn’s goons discovers that Reacher isn’t on the up-and-up so Reacher kills him and is forced to come back later and dispose of the body.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
His goons kidnap Laura, Brian, and Dexter and take them to the shipping container that’s always served as the darkest element of Dex’s origin story.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Our heroes go toe-to-toe with Monroe’s goons, led by Solomon (Berto Colon) as well as a terrorist group led by the dastardly Markus (Michael Malarkey) and his reluctant cousin, Tomas (Rob Heaps).
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
After Peter and Rose escape from the goons and return to his place, Rose stays up all night putting Warren through her scary algorithm.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2025
Loser Ranger What if the random goons that the Power Rangers fought against actually fought for change?
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goons
Noun
-
But even as the ways criminals use ransomware are set to evolve, the actual makeup of the technology isn’t expected to change too drastically in the coming years.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
-
The regulation, which would require small businesses to disclose the identity of people who directly or indirectly own a control a company, is designed to prevent criminals from hiding illicit activity conducted through shell companies or opaque ownership structures, the Treasury said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Cemeteries, too, will do a land office business, not only with dead gangsters, but innocents too, caught in the cross fire.—
Walter E Block,
Orange County Register,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Plus, the coffers of gangsters will rise.—
Walter E Block,
Orange County Register,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The next big bad in Jared Leto's motley crew of sinister screen villains has finally been announced.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
21 Dec. 2024
-
Cultural differences of the region, like a vast foaming, bubbling cauldron, spit out heroes and villains, legends and lore.—
Gary Stoller,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The film itself lacks much of the original’s charms (here, the dogs don’t speak), and John Hughes’ so-so script borrows heavily from his earlier film Home Alone, right down to the two fumbling bandits (Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams, playing Cruella’s henchmen).—
Staff Author,
EW.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Meanwhile, the prince has his own group of seven bandits, in which people with dwarfism are represented.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Goons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goons. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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