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
-
Later, a pair of slugs that help the seed cross an arid landscape, like camels in the desert, glisten vividly.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The slug eats algae, turns bright green, and spends the rest of its life converting light, water, and air into sugar, like a leaf.—
The Atlantic Science Desk,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Specialists from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, are conducting a detailed technical examination of recovered drone components.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Walmart first partnered with Wing in August 2023, when the on-demand drone delivery technology was deployed in a Walmart Supercenter in Frisco, Texas.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At the risk of not sounding like a fashion person, ballet flats and loafers don’t scratch my shoe-itch the way a cool pair of trainers do.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Cole Haan Grand City Platform Oxford Derby These Oxford shoes from Cole Haan are like loafers, sneakers…and heels!—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 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
-
But after years at a snail’s pace, the tide could be changing.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Jan. 2026
-
One of my prompts on the app detailed my phobia of snails in detail.—
Isoke Atiba,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The series’ script comes from Park Jae-bum, who is known for his work on Vincenzo and Good Doctor.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Netflix confirmed Wednesday in South Korea that production is underway on The Dealer, a new original series produced by Hwang and starring a high-profile cast led by Jung So-min, Ryoo Seung-bum and Lee Soo-hyuk.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Not surprisingly, some colonists preferred to be layabouts.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
27 Nov. 2025
-
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
Noun
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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
-
Andres was born in Cuba to a deadbeat alcoholic who beat him, according to his attorneys.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
20 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idler. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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