Definition of do-nothingnext

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 Prosecutors alleged a conspiracy to influence Madigan by funneling payments to do-nothing subcontractors and other political perks to the speaker and then washing it from the utility’s books. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026 Dooley played up his status as a first-time candidate and, despite Republicans controlling the House, Senate and White House, hit Collins as being part of a do-nothing government. ABC News, 31 May 2026 Today, the Trump administration and a do-nothing Republican Congress are damaging our government, our economy, and our standing in the world. Rachel Royster may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for do-nothing
Noun
  • The backpacker's body fails him, but not before the slug transforms his mind.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • Coffee grounds are also often used to deter slugs and snails, reduce weeds without chemicals, and even repel neighborhood strays.
    Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Designed with a plunging neckline, modest bum coverage, and compressive fabric with UPF 50 sun protection, the elegant silhouette offers rich-girl vacation energy that could easily double as a bodysuit with shorts.
    Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 20 June 2026
  • For those caught unaware, the flies will also happily lay eggs in convenient openings such as the nose, mouth, ears, eyes, and even the bum, if available.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • The suspects accused of plotting an attack on the UFC fight at the White House allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives around the event, forcing the crowd to evacuate before they would be targeted by sniper fire, court records said.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • The threat of drone attacks forced several Saudi, Emirati and Iraqi facilities to shut in during the war, too.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Gobert was chief among the beggars imploring his teammates for a shred of consistency on that end of the floor.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Antinous later shocked the other suitors by insulting and assaulting with a footstool an elderly beggar who had spoken to him in the palace hall.
    Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • If CosRx can convince people to willingly slather snail mucin on their faces, trusting the brand with hair care is a pretty easy next step.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026
  • Some of our go-to eye serums are marked down for Prime Day, too, including the COSRX Snail Mucin Peptide Under Eye Cream, which features snail mucin, peptides, and niacinamide to even out discoloration and soothe puffy areas.
    Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Per usual with movies like this, spelling out the terror (the roots are in hobo codes and religious legend) becomes, regrettably, a shock absorber, not a facilitator.
    Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
  • Schneider plays David, a reticent young man with the soulful-hobo air of a Beat poet, who makes a living as an events photographer but whose private passion is a secretive lifelong project, inherited from his father, documenting the changing Parisian suburbs.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • To track down her mother, Lila teams up with her deadbeat father for a journey that includes grudge-settling, Russian criminals, and corrupt politicians.
    Diya Chacko, Oc Register, 18 May 2026
  • Based on a script by Justin Varava that made the 2024 Black List, Turpentine follows a deadbeat son who hires friends to rob his own parents to pay off a bookie, with disastrous results.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Do-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/do-nothing. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster