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
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Recent Examples of do-nothing
The bulk of the ComEd allegations centered on a cadre of Madigan allies who were paid a total of $1.3 million from 2011 through 2019 through allegedly do-nothing consulting contracts.
—
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
At the center of the scheme was a plan to funnel a total of $1.3 million in do-nothing contracts to Madigan’s 13th Ward cronies.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025
That would have a power move for the do-nothing Heat. – Michael.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
But the momentum picked up speed in July 2020 when the U.S. attorney’s office reached a deferred prosecution agreement with ComEd, which acknowledged trying to influence Madigan by showering his pals and associates with do-nothing contracts, legal work and a seat on the ComEd board of directors.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and another related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
In the political messaging battle, though, whether the assessment of a do-nothing Congress and Speaker is true or not is beside the point.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 20 May 2025
Trump and his do-nothing Republicans face 'one big, beautiful' bust of a budget
Rock Creek is full of feces?
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and one Travel Act violation related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
At the center of the scheme was a plan to funnel a total of $1.3 million in do-nothing contracts to Madigan’s 13th Ward cronies.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025
That would have a power move for the do-nothing Heat. – Michael.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
But the momentum picked up speed in July 2020 when the U.S. attorney’s office reached a deferred prosecution agreement with ComEd, which acknowledged trying to influence Madigan by showering his pals and associates with do-nothing contracts, legal work and a seat on the ComEd board of directors.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and another related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
In the political messaging battle, though, whether the assessment of a do-nothing Congress and Speaker is true or not is beside the point.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 20 May 2025
Trump and his do-nothing Republicans face 'one big, beautiful' bust of a budget
Rock Creek is full of feces?
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and one Travel Act violation related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for do-nothing
Noun
-
One trick to capture slugs is to lay a board down next to a row crop and check the underside in the morning to gather the slugs.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
-
The rose slugs can be controlled with a systemic insect spray.—
Chris McKeown,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
This was all done with a bum wrist, which posed as an inconvenience to him at times.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2024
-
Tommy, left to prosecute the case against Rusty, has inherited a bum gig.—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
26 July 2024
Noun
-
The President has already issued six Executive Orders to modernize defense acquisition, realize American drone dominance and rapidly increase shipbuilding capacity.—
Michael Brown,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
-
When weather allows, pilots will use drones to drop pingpong-size balls of chemicals to ignite small fires around the perimeter, which helps reinforce fire lines.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
Or that key medicines have come from ocean discoveries, like a painkiller found in a sea snail?—
Berly McCoy,
NPR,
21 July 2025
-
Installed around the exterior of planters or raised beds, thick copper tape is used to keep slugs and snails from crawling in.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Madsen starred in the two-parter's second entry as Budd, now a deadbeat bouncer living in a trailer.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
3 July 2025
-
The Housing Court system allows deadbeat tenants to live rent-free for months, sometimes years, while waiting to resolve rent disputes.—
Alva Badillo,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
The beggars, widows, and families with sick relatives who once made a pilgrimage to the gates of the parliament building in the Green Zone to beg lawmakers for help are now barred from entry.—
Ned Parker,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Feb. 2012
-
All the beggars at the intersection of Lee Road and the off-ramp of I-4 are completely out of hand.—
Ticked Off,
Orlando Sentinel,
18 July 2024
Noun
-
Extra hooks allow the bag to transform into a trapezoidal hobo shape.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
19 Sep. 2024
-
There’s a lot to love about Coach’s viral shoulder bag: the modern hobo style, the soft leather, the distinct shape.—
Lindy Segal,
Glamour,
13 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Do-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/do-nothing. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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