as in slug
a lazy person
the hot weather turned us into a bunch of idlers
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Example Sentences
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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
-
The institute and federal ocean officials say those appendages, called cerata, hold the stinging cells in a concentrated form, making the slug’s sting especially potent.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Among its many benefits, diatomaceous earth (DE) can control pests as varied as earwigs, caterpillars, ants and aphids, and keep slugs and snails out of garden beds, too.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Eventually, the gap between a fifty-thousand-dollar drone and a three-million-dollar interceptor becomes important; there were reports, this past weekend, that Israel had begun to run low on interceptors.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Recent incidents included a drone attack on the world’s largest ultra-sour gas facility, a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, and damage to a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Leather loafers, a chain pendant necklace, and designer sunnies keep things current—the Rih way.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
17 Mar. 2026
-
And when the right shoes come into play—we're talking polished loafers, sleek slingbacks, modern Mary Janes, delicate sandals, and refined kitten heels—the ensemble takes on a whole new dimension.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
15 Mar. 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
-
Diatomaceous earth is effective against most pests with exoskeletons, as well as slugs and snails.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The infection is often spread by people either eating undercooked snails or slugs, or through people eating raw produce that has whole or parts of infected snails or slugs, according to the report.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her assignment, along with another non-skiing ski bum friend of hers, was to secure that spot.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Trying to warm up your bum from the cold was said to produce heavier periods.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 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 21 Mar. 2026.
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