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
-
Toads help control snails, slugs, caterpillars, and other invertebrates—pests that have the potential to harm your garden plants, says Amarello.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
6 May 2026
-
Similarly, slugs and snails are less likely to travel across jagged surfaces, which can make pine cones a helpful barrier around vulnerable plants like lettuce or hostas.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Ship off Qatar coast hit by drone A cargo vessel off the coast of Qatar was hit by a drone the morning of May 10, causing a small fire onboard.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
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Later that evening, police used drones to survey the house and spotted a body in the back of it.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Toads help control snails, slugs, caterpillars, and other invertebrates—pests that have the potential to harm your garden plants, says Amarello.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
6 May 2026
-
Similarly, slugs and snails are less likely to travel across jagged surfaces, which can make pine cones a helpful barrier around vulnerable plants like lettuce or hostas.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Squinting through the flatulent fog, Absalom manages to return fire, planting a red-hot iron on Nicholas’s bum.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
-
Actress Jodie Foster was just photographed toting the perfect hands-free carryall—sort of like a hybrid, crossbody-bag-meets-bum-bag.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And typically, Wegmann added, those units are occupied by productive, working adults, not layabouts or career criminals leeching off the system, as the old narrative goes.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Mar. 2026
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In Noah Baumbach’s 2007 movie Margot at the Wedding, Jack Black’s character, a would-be painter, former musician, and general layabout named Malcolm, is accused by his fiancée of being competitive with everyone.—
Ryu Spaeth,
Vulture,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Ballet flats, loafers, Mary Janes, and yes, even heels, are perfect for refreshing this athleisure trend.—
Tatiana Ojea,
Glamour,
3 May 2026
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Amazon’s spring-to-summer fashion section is brimming with comfy wide-leg pants that can be easily dressed up for the office with a polished blouse and loafers.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deadbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadbeat. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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