DEADBEATS Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

deadbeats

noun

plural of deadbeat

as in slugs

a lazy person he snapped instructions to the deadbeats who were standing around watching the work pile up

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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 deadbeats Housing prices and rents are inflated by restrictive zoning laws, union work and pay scale mandates, excessive building codes and environmental requirements, litigation and planning process delays, anti-landlord policies that favor deadbeats and squatters, and the list goes on. — Adam B. Summers, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadbeats

Noun

Remember to bury the container deep enough to let the slugs in and out.

— Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026
Mulch also helps suppress weeds and dissuades strawberry pests like slugs.

— Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of slugs

Noun

An Israeli military source told CNN the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had gathered intelligence on Turkey’s plans to deploy personnel, drones and air-defense systems at the site.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses overnight intercepted and destroyed 351 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions, as well as occupied Crimea and the waters of the Azov and the Black Seas.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of drones

Noun

At Carter Lake, boat inspection checkpoints are now looking for the snails in addition to other invasive species, such as zebra mussels.

— Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Insects belong to the kingdom Animalia, along with mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, octopuses, snails, jellyfish, worms, and many other groups.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of snails

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
As the story begins, Mary and Boo are neighbors, unemployed millennial layabouts who rarely leave their rooms.

— Katie Rife, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026

Definition of layabouts

Noun

For families Apart from the family-sized villa estates and kid-friendly menus, Nihi has a host of activities that will please even the youngest beach bums.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Aug. 2026
The Coliseum stayed in business for 500 years, bums in seats twice a week, watching people hack each other to death.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of bums

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deadbeat

deadbeats

deaden

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“Deadbeats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadbeats. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of deadbeats

noun

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