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
The big issue is that Robert, despite being an exceptionally capable superhero, gets totally overwhelmed in fight against Shrouds goons in the villain’s factory-like lair, losing his suit and the (likely important) power source in the process.
—
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Sunyata is the bougie, cultish wellness retreat Lee suggests for Betty Jo’s hideaway — a place where Donald Washberg and his goons on the police force can’t find her.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Sometimes his quest for the truth takes the shape of a prototypical thriller—rendezvous at dive bars, threats issued by shadowy goons in parking lots.
—Judy Berman, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Both Cleo and Mitch end up being restrained by the tycoon’s strong-armed goons.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Oct. 2025
The rapper Killer Mike makes the most of his limited screen time as the no-nonsense publisher of a local tabloid that prints Lee’s more lowbrow, retaliatory material, including the mug shots and criminal histories of some goons who assaulted him.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 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
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Sunyata is the bougie, cultish wellness retreat Lee suggests for Betty Jo’s hideaway — a place where Donald Washberg and his goons on the police force can’t find her.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Sometimes his quest for the truth takes the shape of a prototypical thriller—rendezvous at dive bars, threats issued by shadowy goons in parking lots.
—Judy Berman, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Both Cleo and Mitch end up being restrained by the tycoon’s strong-armed goons.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Oct. 2025
The rapper Killer Mike makes the most of his limited screen time as the no-nonsense publisher of a local tabloid that prints Lee’s more lowbrow, retaliatory material, including the mug shots and criminal histories of some goons who assaulted him.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goons
Noun
-
Noah's sister-in-law Esther (Jackie Tohn), the Jewish character portrayed most insultingly last year, has thankfully been softened and refined, and has somehow become the lone voice of reason amongst a group of immature idiots.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
-
To be funny while playing a character who’s sweet and endearing (even when calling his friends idiots) is a skill, and Bad Bunny has it.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In The Big Lebowski, thugs mistake the titular slacker (Bridges) for the wealthy Jeffrey Lebowski, sending him on a wild investigation with his pal Walter (John Goodman) into a ransom plot involving Lebowski’s young wife (Tara Reid).—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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To suggest that another candidate’s supporters are criminals — particularly when that candidate is, by all measures, poised to win at least a plurality of votes in the city — does not seem like a recipe for earning New Yorkers’ support.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Binance also lacked protocols — standard for financial services companies — to report transactions for money laundering risks, according to the Justice Department, and employees were well aware that such an oversight would invite criminals to the platform.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There were these lunatics in the car.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
So that episode will make fun [of] billionaire life-extension body-hacking lunatics.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
McLusky, however, isn’t interested in meeting new gangsters or unknown criminals in his town.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The other is about Chicago-style gangsters circa 1929.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Yet if the Dodgers are to be cast as villains from the Book of Samuel, Toronto brought to the fight far more than pebbles.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
For the 2017 Dress to Be Free Halloween Party at House of Yes in New York City, Cardi B went as one of Disney's most notorious villains.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In classical antiquity, the mountainous region was notorious for bandits; in modern times, blood feuds among clans were rife.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
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Shortly after the museum opened on Sunday morning, two bandits used a lift on a truck to break into its Galerie d'Apollon, which houses the French crown jewels and other treasures, through a second-floor window.—
NPR,
NPR,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Goons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goons. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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