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
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
Continue reading … OPINION DAVID MARCUS – Why Schumer's do-nothing approach makes perfect sense for Democrats.
—Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025
Many of these new candidates will be ordinary citizens who are fed up with the feckless and do-nothing politics of the Democratic establishment.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Christy Merrick, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Siri needs a facelift Apple has apparently been riding the do-nothing train for 14 years.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2025
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
Continue reading … OPINION DAVID MARCUS – Why Schumer's do-nothing approach makes perfect sense for Democrats.
—Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025
Many of these new candidates will be ordinary citizens who are fed up with the feckless and do-nothing politics of the Democratic establishment.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Christy Merrick, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Siri needs a facelift Apple has apparently been riding the do-nothing train for 14 years.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for do-nothing
Noun
-
Pickett said the multiple layers of packaging are vital, since slugs (mollusks, not insects) end up falling into the liquid, and their smell is uniquely bad.—
Madeline Bodin,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 June 2025
-
Unlike most pests, slugs and snails are most active at night or in cool, wet weather.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 June 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
-
According to Ukrainian security services, the strikes damaged one-third of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers causing billions of dollars of damage, and via drones worth around $400 each.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
26 June 2025
-
With a drone in the air, the wildlife specialists saw the whale appeared to be in good health, and wasn’t dragging any fishing material, according to the post.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2025
Noun
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From an outdoor kitchen emerged a lavish feast: bruschetta topped with mangrove clams; squash soup with snails; fish fritters; sea-bass kinilaw—ceviche’s Filipino cousin—cured with lime and young-coconut vinegar.—
Jeff Chu,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2025
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In Lake Victoria, the largest tropical lake in the world, rocky outcrops provide a home for freshwater snails.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Devon is trying to find her deadbeat sometimes lover and friend, Ray, but can’t track him down.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
22 May 2025
-
This one has Skarsgard as Eddie, a deadbeat but well-meaning dad to Sarah (Ashley Cartwright) and petty thief whose attempt to steal a luxury SUV turns into disaster because its unseen psycho vigilante owner named William (Anthony Hopkins) has rigged it so bad things happen.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 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
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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
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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 1 Jul. 2025.
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