as in slug
a lazy person
he snapped instructions to the deadbeats who were standing around watching the work pile up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deadbeat
Things take a serious turn when Vince’s deadbeat son Rocco (Lewis Pullman) shows up unannounced with his pregnant girlfriend, Marina (Emanuela Postacchini), and alcoholic mother, Ruth (Jennifer Coolidge).
—
Josh Weiss, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
The Season 4, Part 1 finale contains one whopper of a revelation: JJ’s deadbeat father, Luke, isn’t his real dad.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 Oct. 2024
After a strange meteor crash lands in his backyard and turns his deadbeat father into a brain-eating zombie, Bucky and his friends seize the opportunity to create the ultimate horror flick, starring his undead dad.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
Hulu 11 of 15 Shameless (2011–2021) Shameless centers around the impoverished Gallagher clan, whose deadbeat patriarch Frank (William H. Macy) leaves his six children to fend for themselves, with the oldest, Fiona (Emmy Rossum), doing her best to support the family.
—Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Josh Weiss, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
The Season 4, Part 1 finale contains one whopper of a revelation: JJ’s deadbeat father, Luke, isn’t his real dad.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 Oct. 2024
After a strange meteor crash lands in his backyard and turns his deadbeat father into a brain-eating zombie, Bucky and his friends seize the opportunity to create the ultimate horror flick, starring his undead dad.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
Hulu 11 of 15 Shameless (2011–2021) Shameless centers around the impoverished Gallagher clan, whose deadbeat patriarch Frank (William H. Macy) leaves his six children to fend for themselves, with the oldest, Fiona (Emmy Rossum), doing her best to support the family.
—Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadbeat
Noun
-
The cowboy is able to put out the fire, but not before taking a slug.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
6 Apr. 2025
-
What was the original basis for their slug of stock?—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Six regions of the country -- Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, Donetsk, Sumy and Cherkasy -- recorded damage from drone attacks, the air force said.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Russia continued its bombardment of Ukraine on Friday, killing three people with a drone strike on an apartment building in a southeastern city.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Now, Korean skincare is known for 10-step routines and unusual, yet viral products, like COSRX snail mucin and salmon sperm injections.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Use it for pest control by adding a ring of biodegradable litter along the topsoil of outdoor plants to keep slugs, snails, and pests away.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This was all done with a bum wrist, which posed as an inconvenience to him at times.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2024
-
Tommy, left to prosecute the case against Rusty, has inherited a bum gig.—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
26 July 2024
Noun
-
Moore’s then-husband Bruce Willis plays against-type as the abusive layabout husband of hairdresser Joyce (Glenne Headly).—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
-
In Yancheng, in eastern China, the police have checked karaoke bars, rental housing and hotels for potential layabouts.—
Vivian Wang,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Heaton, 31, sported an oversized gray pinstriped suit with a matching suit vest, a black button-down shirt, and a pair of black leather loafers.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
The play’s piano-and-strings compositions, by Grant Olding, closely recall Nicholas Britell’s discordant TV soundtrack; Richard wears sumptuous suits and velvet loafers without socks, then goes to prison in comfy gray sweats, sporting quiet luxury to the end.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deadbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadbeat. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share