as in slug
a lazy person
she regretted ever asking that layabout to be her roommate, as he created the mess of two people and refused to help with anything
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Recent Examples of layabout
The adventurous will find isolation on an epic scale on northern Iceland's windswept landscape, the traditional serenity on a private island off of Anguilla, and the bohemian layabouts a haven in a compound on the Andalusian coast.
—
Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Feb. 2023
For decades, American life has been dominated by layabouts—by a broad, bi-coastal, bipartisan elite of non-workers.
—James K. Galbraith, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2019
You might be tempted to regard early retirees as layabouts, soaking up sunshine while everyone else toils.
—Amy X. Wang, New York Times, 7 May 2024
That’s because welfare programs are easiest to axe when conservatives go hunting for budget cuts — Americans typically view them as serving layabouts and malingerers at their expense.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for layabout 
Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Feb. 2023
For decades, American life has been dominated by layabouts—by a broad, bi-coastal, bipartisan elite of non-workers.
—James K. Galbraith, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2019
You might be tempted to regard early retirees as layabouts, soaking up sunshine while everyone else toils.
—Amy X. Wang, New York Times, 7 May 2024
That’s because welfare programs are easiest to axe when conservatives go hunting for budget cuts — Americans typically view them as serving layabouts and malingerers at their expense.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for layabout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layabout
Noun
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The reflective foil discourages unwanted insects and pests like slugs from approaching and harming the plants, but actually helps to attract butterflies.—
Darcy Lenz,
Southern Living,
21 Nov. 2024
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Caissie could provide some left-handed slug, but the Cubs already have five outfielders fighting for playing time.—
Sahadev Sharma,
The Athletic,
6 Aug. 2024
Noun
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The announcement of the aid package also detailed Lithuania's plans to aid Ukraine in the year ahead with air defense, ammunition, drones, anti-drones.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
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Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.—
Kimberley Snaith,
Space.com,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This was all done with a bum wrist, which posed as an inconvenience to him at times.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2024
-
Tommy, left to prosecute the case against Rusty, has inherited a bum gig.—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
26 July 2024
Noun
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The Season 4, Part 1 finale contains one whopper of a revelation: JJ’s deadbeat father, Luke, isn’t his real dad.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
11 Oct. 2024
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After a strange meteor crash lands in his backyard and turns his deadbeat father into a brain-eating zombie, Bucky and his friends seize the opportunity to create the ultimate horror flick, starring his undead dad.—
Patrick Frater,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2024
Noun
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Diaz gave the oversized suit trend an all-white spin on Friday, once again shirking heels in favor of square-toed black loafers—which are quickly becoming one of the most popular shoes of 2025.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
17 Jan. 2025
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Piana took umbrage over Viola Milano’s Capri and City loafers, pointing out among other similarities the shoes’ nearly identical white rubber soles.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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But the wall’s rough texture is expected to encourage animals like coral, crustaceans and snails to attach to it.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
16 Jan. 2025
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However, predators like sea stars and snails have evolved olfactory receptors specifically tuned to detect these compounds, turning the barnacles’ defensive mechanism into a homing beacon.—
Melissa Cristina Marquez,
Forbes,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Thesaurus Entries Near layabout
Cite this Entry
“Layabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layabout. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
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