as in slug
a lazy person
the hot weather turned us into a bunch of idlers
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Recent Examples of idler
His discoveries promise to upset the gaming tables of every school of thought that wagers on new and untested art for idlers’ rewards: the love of novelty, the will to make or unmake reputations, the wish to be hip or au courant.
—
Mark Greif, Harper's Magazine, 26 July 2024
Their name exudes the essence of an idler and slacker, but women’s loafers themselves are quite the opposite.
—Gaby Keiderling, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Jan. 2023
This represents the loss of an idea of what the capital should represent, the removal of a place that was an idler’s haven.
—Anandi Mishra, The Atlantic, 30 July 2022
If the flaneur is an active idler, the badaud is a stationary, passive one, ready to stare open-mouthed at any phenomenon that offers novelty or puzzlement.
—Julian Barnes, The New York Review of Books, 27 Apr. 2022
That these dialogues are a joint project of the WEF and the entitled idler next in line to the British throne is another reminder that democracy is no part of the Davos game.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 29 Oct. 2020
Mark Greif, Harper's Magazine, 26 July 2024
Their name exudes the essence of an idler and slacker, but women’s loafers themselves are quite the opposite.
—Gaby Keiderling, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Jan. 2023
This represents the loss of an idea of what the capital should represent, the removal of a place that was an idler’s haven.
—Anandi Mishra, The Atlantic, 30 July 2022
If the flaneur is an active idler, the badaud is a stationary, passive one, ready to stare open-mouthed at any phenomenon that offers novelty or puzzlement.
—Julian Barnes, The New York Review of Books, 27 Apr. 2022
That these dialogues are a joint project of the WEF and the entitled idler next in line to the British throne is another reminder that democracy is no part of the Davos game.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 29 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idler
Noun
-
It is usually only afflicted by slugs, which can be easily managed, or crown rot due to overwatering.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The main thing to keep an eye out for with lettuce is slugs and snails.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Ukrainian forces, most of them drone experts, operate mainly at an air base in the coastal city of Misrata, but also in other military facilities in the capital Tripoli and the coastal town of Zawiya, the officials told The Associated Press.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Their interests aren’t served when Iranian missiles and drones target Qatari natural gas facilities, Saudi refineries and Kuwaiti oil fields.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most often worn with a blocky boot or minimal loafers, cropped trousers are the business-casual option that can do it all.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Flat shoes particularly bring a sense of understated elegance to a granny-jeans look—from leather loafers to strappy sandals, the combination of comfort and polish redefines everyday dressing.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Scar then proceeds to desolate the kingdom, with the help of hyenas, while Simba, in exile, grows up to become a pleasure-hunting, grub-eating sluggard.—
Anthony Lane,
The New Yorker,
19 July 2019
-
Clearly, supervision at your job is lax, and your sluggard classmate is taking advantage of that.—
Kwame Anthony Appiah,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2017
Noun
-
At first, the video feed showed little more than brown mud pockmarked by burrowing worms and snails.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The main thing to keep an eye out for with lettuce is slugs and snails.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Coach told us to be first one to the ball and to make those 50/50 plays, to do it on a bum ankle but still being able to give it my all and leave everything there for my teammates.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Its silhoutte is relaxed but still makes sure to flatter your bum.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And typically, Wegmann added, those units are occupied by productive, working adults, not layabouts or career criminals leeching off the system, as the old narrative goes.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Mar. 2026
-
In Noah Baumbach’s 2007 movie Margot at the Wedding, Jack Black’s character, a would-be painter, former musician, and general layabout named Malcolm, is accused by his fiancée of being competitive with everyone.—
Ryu Spaeth,
Vulture,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
After a career spent writing paeans to deadbeats and douchebags, of course her take on true love sounds like a horror movie.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Idler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idler. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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