DO-NOTHING Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

do-nothing

noun

ˈdü-ˌnə-thiŋ

Definition of do-nothing

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

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

Noun

The live-by-the-slug, die-by-the-slug Dodgers have hit zero home runs in the NLCS.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
These beneficial predators spend the winter under leaves, emerging in spring to feed on common garden pests such as aphids, slugs and mites.

— Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of slug

Noun

Carl Sandburg’s 1927 American Songbag featured a whole section of hobo songs presenting the bum as a beau ideal.

— Caroline Fraser, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
The silhouette was heavily elongated, with three-quarter-length jackets and argyle knitwear that covered the bum.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of bum

Noun

But Wang has incorporated drones and AI into his family’s farm in an effort to modernize and economize the work.

— Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 21 Oct. 2026
In other developments, Russia unleashed another missile and drone blitz on civilian areas in Ukraine, killing at least nine people, officials said, as Zelenskyy sought more American and European help.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of drone

Noun

Now, researchers studying Japanese land snails have identified a gene that helps determine whether their shells coil clockwise or counterclockwise, offering new clues into how animals develop their left and right sides.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
These under-eye saviors revitalize tired-looking eyes with eight firming peptides and snail mucin to deliver a deep boost of hydration.

— Vivien Lee, InStyle, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of snail

Noun

That deal includes handbags, fashion backpacks, hobos, totes, crossbody bags, sling bags, satchels, duffel bags and boot bags, along with belts, wallets, wristlets, passport cases and key chains.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Carl Sandburg’s 1927 American Songbag featured a whole section of hobo songs presenting the bum as a beau ideal.

— Caroline Fraser, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of hobo

Noun

In the film Rap World (which Bensinger also edited), Bensinger, O’Malley, and Rahill play suburban deadbeats eager to make an album, each man waylaid by his own hubris and distractions.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of deadbeat

Browse Nearby Words

donors

do-nothing

do-nothings

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Style

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

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Synonyms of do-nothing

noun

Example Sentences

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