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
-
Any organic mulch will work, but leaves may attract slugs.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
-
While this energy level is lower than many rifle categories, the slug’s massive frontal area and weight create uniquely destructive terminal effects.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The drone can manage flight controls and throttle adjustments without human commands, the company said.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
While the approach has boosted morale and efficiency, analysts warn that heavy reliance on drones may not be sustainable.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Favorite Daughter shoe line boasts a lineup of shoes with a designer-equivalent vibe across its range of styles including pumps, boots, loafers and sneakers.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Perhaps Seyfried gleaned styling inspiration from Doechii, who wore the same loafer-and-socks combination over the summer during a performance at Outside Lands.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
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
-
This will reduce the number of snails and other pests that overwinter nearby and feed on your plants in spring.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Sturdy cloches can keep slugs, snails, and many other pests from feeding on veggies, herbs, and flowers.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And the oversized top has a split hem that falls below the bum.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The revolution is in tatters, and DiCaprio’s Bob, once a celebrity rebel, is now a benignly useless substance-using layabout who tries, in his shambling way, to take care of his and Perfidia’s daughter, Willa (played with a no-nonsense radiance by Chase Infiniti).—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Dreux has entrusted Alyssa with delivering Uche’s money before the first of the month—but instead, Alyssa has asked her layabout, freeloading boyfriend Keshawn (Joshua David Neal) to put the money in Uche’s hands.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The world’s biggest deadbeat has passed the begging bowl again.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The final straw was painting him as a deadbeat stepfather to Echevarria’s two sons, Frankie and Peter, which he flat-out denied.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idler. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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