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Definitions

goner

[gaw-ner, gon-er] / ˈgɔ nər, ˈgɒn ər /
ADJECTIVE
desperate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
despondent forlorn futile sad vain
STRONG
downcast
WEAK
at end of one's rope back to the wall can't win dead duck despairing desponding gone hard up in the soup in the toilet inconsolable irrecoverable irremediable irretrievable no chance no-win running out of time sunk up against it up the creek useless wretched
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful happy hopeful joyful
WEAK
calm confident content contented satisfactory satisfied secure unworried
ADJECTIVE
hopeless
Synonyms
STRONGEST
desperate forlorn helpless impossible pointless sad tragic useless
WEAK
bad beyond recall cynical dejected demoralized despairing despondent disconsolate discouraging downhearted fatal gone ill-fated impracticable in despair incurable irredeemable irreparable irreversible irrevocable lost menacing no-win past hope shot down sinister sunk threatening unachievable unavailing unfortunate unmitigable up the creek vain woebegone worsening
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful good happy hopeful joyful
WEAK
auspicious bright encouraging expectant optimistic promising propitious rosy
ADJECTIVE
irremediable
Synonyms
WEAK
bad beyond recall cureless cynical dejected demoralized despairing desperate despondent disconsolate discouraging downhearted fatal forlorn gone helpless ill-fated impossible impracticable in despair incurable irredeemable irreparable irreversible irrevocable lost menacing no-win past hope pointless sad shot down sinister sunk threatening tragic unachievable unavailing unfortunate unmitigable up the creek useless vain woebegone worsening

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That means if it’s separated from the ants it parasitizes, it’s a goner.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Then, just before 11am, as foreign office minister Stephen Doughty stood up in the Commons to answer an urgent question on Mandelson, my emails pinged - and Lord Mandelson was a goner.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

Then when the camera lingered on his departure from Dragonstone, until the little boy on his little dragon faded into the night, I was sure he was a goner.

From New York Times • Oct. 23, 2022

The most recent goner, who gives the book its title, was an investigative journalist.

From Washington Post • Jul. 9, 2022

With a guy like Ackley, if you looked up from your book you were a goner.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger