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
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
From these companies’ perspective, the ideal consumer would do literally nothing but goon, lose at gambling, and maybe watch other people play video games.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Ellen and Clayton married in 2010 and went on to have four children.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goon
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Noun
The two men do eventually join forces, however, once Dante’s goons cross an unforgivable line.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
From these companies’ perspective, the ideal consumer would do literally nothing but goon, lose at gambling, and maybe watch other people play video games.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
At the same time, the present era is an epoch in which wars go on seemingly forever—now simmering, now boiling—without end.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Ellen and Clayton married in 2010 and went on to have four children.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2025.
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