goon squads
Violent enforcement groups
Goon squads are groups of thugs hired to intimidate, threaten, or attack people—typically used by employers against striking workers, by political factions against opponents, or by authorities to suppress dissent.
The term emphasizes organized brutality rather than spontaneous violence: The company brought in goon squads to break up the picket line.
Now used more broadly for any menacing enforcement group.
- thugsViolent criminals
- gangsOrganized criminal groups
- enforcersThose who impose obedience
- strikebreakersWorkers replacing union laborers
- henchmenLoyal subordinates to wrongdoers
threats · intimidation · musclemen · violence · paramilitary · coercion · hired muscle · authoritarianism · aggression · riot · riot police · bruisers · brass knuckles · Ku Klux Klan · union busting · labor disputes · brownshirts · vigilantes
- union opponentsstrikebreakers, scabs, Pinkertons
- union bustingunion busting, strikebreaker, strikebreaking, scabs, scab
goon squadshuman rights defenders
Those protecting fundamental freedoms
peace activists · protective services · peacekeepers · guardian angels · humanitarian workers
goon squadsnegotiators
Those who arrange agreements
diplomatic corps · diplomatic envoys · mediators · arbitrators · passive resisters