as in slug
a lazy person
he snapped instructions to the deadbeats who were standing around watching the work pile up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deadbeat
Zoey’s deadbeat father, who left her as a baby to become a rock star, does not show up to do any sort of healing.
—
Rachel Handler, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
Andres was born in Cuba to a deadbeat alcoholic who beat him, according to his attorneys.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025
The world’s biggest deadbeat has passed the begging bowl again.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Keery, with a dirty-blond dye job and a sweet deadbeat demeanor, might draw some Stranger Things fans, especially since the mix of ‘80s nostalgia with creeping dread, gory set-pieces, droll character banter and humor hatched out of fear land somewhere near that show’s tonal wavelength.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Rachel Handler, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
Andres was born in Cuba to a deadbeat alcoholic who beat him, according to his attorneys.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025
The world’s biggest deadbeat has passed the begging bowl again.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Keery, with a dirty-blond dye job and a sweet deadbeat demeanor, might draw some Stranger Things fans, especially since the mix of ‘80s nostalgia with creeping dread, gory set-pieces, droll character banter and humor hatched out of fear land somewhere near that show’s tonal wavelength.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadbeat
Noun
-
Attracting certain unwanted pests like snails, slugs, or raccoons.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
7 June 2026
-
Firefly larvae feed on slugs and snails.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
The agency also didn’t disclose what technology was used to track down the drone pilots.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
Earlier this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that his forces had captured a Russian position using only drones and robots for the first time, and had conducted more than 22,000 unmanned ground missions using robots in just the first three months of 2026.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Hodgson’s field research has revealed that snails have a homing instinct of up to 30 meters (about 100 feet).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Attracting certain unwanted pests like snails, slugs, or raccoons.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
For those caught unaware, the flies will also happily lay eggs in convenient openings such as the nose, mouth, ears, eyes, and even the bum, if available.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
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The Kings will inevitably be criticized for making a series of bad decisions and bum deals while Fox, Barnes and Brown grace the game’s grandest stage a year after being cast off under questionable circumstances.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Marlon's Shorty Meeks is in his 25th year of high school, but has made millions as a layabout live-streamer.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 June 2026
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When layabout postman Jesper gets assigned to the frozen town of Smeerensburg with an ultimatum to process 6,000 letters, a reclusive toymaker might be his only hope.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Mahershala Ali and Damson Idris also gravitated toward low-profile loafers on red carpets, while Omar Apollo and Alexander Skarsgård pushed the proportion further in softer, narrower shapes.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
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And during the warmer months when sneakers and loafers turn into strappy sandals and flip-flops, this is when the relaxed pants game gets really good.—
Staff Author,
InStyle,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deadbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadbeat. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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