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

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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

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
  • Prosecutors showed medical examiner photos of Sluganski's workshirt, pierced by two bullet holes, and a slug retrieved from his Kevlar vest.
    — Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • As Goncalves swept it across my complexion, its suction-y tip felt like a little slug with a very rough tongue licking my face—not unpleasant, but strange nonetheless.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of slug
Noun
  • Even Keanu Reeves dealt with a bum knee on the first John Wick — and, for that matter, throughout much of the franchise.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Zellers poured the foundation, and Morrison hired fellow ski bums to do the framing, masonry, and tiling.
    — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of bum
Noun
  • On Tuesday, crews used boats, drones and helicopters to conduct surface searches.
    — CBS Baltimore, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The development is part of China’s broader push to establish a low-altitude economy covering drones, cargo aircraft and passenger-carrying vehicles.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of drone
Noun
  • Dhaka’s rundown streets peppered with the homeless, vendors and child beggars.
    — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of beggar
Noun
  • Look for slugs and snails feeding on both moss and algae on logs.
    — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Beneath Rocks and Bricks Slugs, snails, and various insects will sometimes also use rocks, bricks, garden bed edging, wooden boards, and other hard surfaces for shelter until spring.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of snail
Noun
  • Moving Indoors in the Cold Spiders such as cellar spiders, wolf spiders, and hobo spiders move indoors as the weather cools—just like many other insects.
    — Sarah Everett, The Spruce, 23 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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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Cite this Entry

“Do-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/do-nothing. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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