do-nothing

noun

ˈdü-ˌnə-thiŋ How to pronounce do-nothing (audio)
Definition of do-nothingnext
1
as in slug
a lazy person the new boss quickly figured out who the do-nothings were and fired them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 do-nothing 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 See All Example Sentences for do-nothing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for do-nothing
  1. slug
  2. bum
  3. drone
  4. beggar
  5. snail
  6. hobo
  7. deadbeat
Noun
  • Mulch also helps suppress weeds and dissuades strawberry pests like slugs.
    — Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
  • If your garden has been beset by destructive crawling insects like ants, beetles, and slugs, pesticides often seem like the clear solution.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of slug
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
  • And for any bum stuff Ted might want confidentially looked at.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of bum
Noun
  • At least 28 drones were shot down over the Moscow region, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Telegram.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Romania said an explosive-laden naval drone believed to have been launched by Russia targeted one of its offshore natural gas projects.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of drone
Noun
  • Robert Pattinson’s big outburst in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ has gone viral—here’s the ‘beggars’ meme, explained.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Antinous shocked even the other suitors by insulting and assaulting an elderly beggar; when the beggar revealed himself as Odysseus and slew the suitors, Antinous was the first to die.
    — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
Definition of beggar
Noun
  • An invasive species of snail has been confirmed in Carter Lake in Northern Colorado, prompting Colorado Parks and Wildlife to focus on preventing the species from spreading to other waterways in the state.
    — 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 snail
Noun
  • Add a slouchy hobo bag and Western belt at the waist for the full effect.
    — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The chocolate brown finish makes this hobo bag a fitting style for fall.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of hobo
Noun
  • In the fight for the right to be yourself, there are a lot of barriers to being accepted as a female deadbeat.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Alas, there’s not enough time for this deadbeat to blossom into a real dad.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of deadbeat

Browse Nearby Words

donors
do-nothing
do-nothings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Do-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/do-nothing. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All