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
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
Former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty was sentenced today to one year in prison for his role in an elaborate scheme to funnel money to do-nothing subcontractors with ties to then-House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for Madigan’s influence on legislation in Springfield.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
About a dozen have visited or have plans to make stops in the early primary states, such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, 60, who in April caught attention for delivering a searing speech in New Hampshire aimed at 'do-nothing' Democrats.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
That would have a power move for the do-nothing Heat. – Michael.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
John Davenport, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty was sentenced today to one year in prison for his role in an elaborate scheme to funnel money to do-nothing subcontractors with ties to then-House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for Madigan’s influence on legislation in Springfield.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
About a dozen have visited or have plans to make stops in the early primary states, such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, 60, who in April caught attention for delivering a searing speech in New Hampshire aimed at 'do-nothing' Democrats.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
That would have a power move for the do-nothing Heat. – Michael.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for do-nothing
Noun
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Later, a pair of slugs that help the seed cross an arid landscape, like camels in the desert, glisten vividly.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The slug eats algae, turns bright green, and spends the rest of its life converting light, water, and air into sugar, like a leaf.—
The Atlantic Science Desk,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The series’ script comes from Park Jae-bum, who is known for his work on Vincenzo and Good Doctor.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
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Netflix confirmed Wednesday in South Korea that production is underway on The Dealer, a new original series produced by Hwang and starring a high-profile cast led by Jung So-min, Ryoo Seung-bum and Lee Soo-hyuk.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Specialists from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, are conducting a detailed technical examination of recovered drone components.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
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Walmart first partnered with Wing in August 2023, when the on-demand drone delivery technology was deployed in a Walmart Supercenter in Frisco, Texas.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But after years at a snail’s pace, the tide could be changing.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Jan. 2026
-
One of my prompts on the app detailed my phobia of snails in detail.—
Isoke Atiba,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Zoey’s deadbeat father, who left her as a baby to become a rock star, does not show up to do any sort of healing.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
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Andres was born in Cuba to a deadbeat alcoholic who beat him, according to his attorneys.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
20 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In the old days beggars were drawn and quartered in that square.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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In Havana, beggars are ubiquitous.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In fact, she was also seen wearing these kicks in New York back in May, pairing the sneakers her aforementioned Hammitt hobo bag with gunmetal grommets.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
21 Dec. 2025
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One mask depicts a frowning hobo with a 5 o'clock shadow that represents the aforementioned vagrant.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Do-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/do-nothing. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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