1
as in slug
a lazy person
the new boss quickly figured out who the do-nothings were and fired them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bum
an idle worthless person
he indiscriminately dismisses the state legislators as a bunch of do-nothings who live at the taxpayers' expense
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of do-nothing
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for do-nothing
Noun
-
Although the scent of mint is deeply appealing to most human noses, many pests don’t like the smell or taste of mint – including slugs and snails.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
-
Hand remove the slugs to eliminate them from your plants.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
18 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
-
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
-
Prosecutors allege the group, who were arrested in June during a multi-state sweep, coordinated an ambush involving explosive-laden drones intended to strike the north side of the White House.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
-
Federal authorities arrested multiple people in connection with an alleged plot to target the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House, thwarting an attack that court documents say would have involved drones, explosive devices and multiple gunmen.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Gobert was chief among the beggars imploring his teammates for a shred of consistency on that end of the floor.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Antinous later shocked the other suitors by insulting and assaulting with a footstool an elderly beggar who had spoken to him in the palace hall.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Keeping Away Pests The alluring smell of a fresh cup of joe does not have the same effect on insects and pests like snails and slugs.—
Joey Skladany,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
-
Colorful flowers tower over guests, butterflies are as big as birds and snails and bumblebees crawl and buzz along the walls.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Per usual with movies like this, spelling out the terror (the roots are in hobo codes and religious legend) becomes, regrettably, a shock absorber, not a facilitator.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
-
Schneider plays David, a reticent young man with the soulful-hobo air of a Beat poet, who makes a living as an events photographer but whose private passion is a secretive lifelong project, inherited from his father, documenting the changing Parisian suburbs.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
To track down her mother, Lila teams up with her deadbeat father for a journey that includes grudge-settling, Russian criminals, and corrupt politicians.—
Diya Chacko,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
-
Based on a script by Justin Varava that made the 2024 Black List, Turpentine follows a deadbeat son who hires friends to rob his own parents to pay off a bookie, with disastrous results.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Do-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/do-nothing. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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