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
  • But in an aging lineup that has lacked slug for the majority of the second half, an absence such this is not nearly as easy to cover.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • On a late November afternoon in 1991, Sam Aiuppa climbed into a stand and dropped a slug into his Remington 870.
    — Scott Einsmann, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of slug
Noun
  • Cocktail chatter on the Lido held that this was a more minor work than anticipated, and many of those positive reviews nevertheless included a few bum notes.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Kennedy’s Albany is a vital, violent place, a hothouse of gangsters, pool hustlers, bums, crooked politicians, and showgirls.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of bum
Noun
  • The sheriff's office's drone was used to assist in checking the approximately 28-acre property and helped identify old kennel and animal-confinement areas.
    — River Valley Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • After the closing bell Wednesday, drone maker AeroVironment and retailer American Eagle Outfitters report.
    — Jeff Marks,Zev Fima, CNBC, 9 Sep. 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
  • There’s another Bourne film moving its way through development at a snail’s pace.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Sometime in the last million or so years, the snail had undergone a whole-genome duplication.
    — Carrie Arnold Contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 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 13 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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