: marked by inactivity or failure to make positive progress
do-noth·ing·ism
-ˌizəm
plural -s
: commitment to a do-nothing policy
Examples of do-nothing in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the new boss quickly figured out who the do-nothings were and fired them
he indiscriminately dismisses the state legislators as a bunch of do-nothings who live at the taxpayers' expense
Recent Examples on the Web
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Dooley played up his status as a first-time candidate and, despite Republicans controlling the House, Senate and White House, hit Collins as being part of a do-nothing government.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
Today, the Trump administration and a do-nothing Republican Congress are damaging our government, our economy, and our standing in the world.
—Rachel Royster
may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Is Jack a do-nothing philanderer while Shyanne desperately tries to preserve their five-year romance, or is the truth more complicated than that?
—Todd Gilchrist, IndieWire, 7 May 2026
The commission made the right call to delay implementation of Gavin’s do-nothing laws.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 6 May 2026
Finally, upgrade your couch-rot-and-do-nothing sessions with the TCL 75-inch Class Q6 smart TV, and save 22%.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 May 2026
That makes a strong case for the do-nothing vacation, then, which, in the words of The Washington Post, aligns with wellness rather than laziness.
—Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Instead, Trump should start castigating the do-nothing political elites who betrayed courageous Venezuelan defenders of democracy like López and Machado.
—John Davenport, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
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Noun
Prosecutors alleged a conspiracy to influence Madigan by funneling payments to do-nothing subcontractors and other political perks to the speaker and then washing it from the utility’s books.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Dooley played up his status as a first-time candidate and, despite Republicans controlling the House, Senate and White House, hit Collins as being part of a do-nothing government.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
Today, the Trump administration and a do-nothing Republican Congress are damaging our government, our economy, and our standing in the world.
—Rachel Royster
may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Is Jack a do-nothing philanderer while Shyanne desperately tries to preserve their five-year romance, or is the truth more complicated than that?
—Todd Gilchrist, IndieWire, 7 May 2026
The commission made the right call to delay implementation of Gavin’s do-nothing laws.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 6 May 2026
Finally, upgrade your couch-rot-and-do-nothing sessions with the TCL 75-inch Class Q6 smart TV, and save 22%.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 May 2026
That makes a strong case for the do-nothing vacation, then, which, in the words of The Washington Post, aligns with wellness rather than laziness.
—Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Instead, Trump should start castigating the do-nothing political elites who betrayed courageous Venezuelan defenders of democracy like López and Machado.
—John Davenport, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Do-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do-nothing. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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