Meaning & use

goon

noun·Everyday

A thug or violent criminal, often hired to intimidate or harm people.

See it in a sentence

The shady businessman sent his goons to threaten anyone who refused to pay.

A pair of goons blocked the door, warning reporters to stay away.

A note on using this word

Goon is informal and often used in crime fiction or casual speech; it can also mean a foolish or clumsy person, depending on context.

Words with a similar meaning

thughenchman

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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