NE'ER-DO-WELL Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

ne'er-do-well 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of ne'er-do-well next

as in lazy

having no ambition, success, or value to society the ne'er-do-well denizens of a seedy bar near the docks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ne'er-do-well

2 of 2

noun

ˈner-du̇-ˌwel

as in bum

an idle worthless person the local ne'er-do-wells seem to hang out on the street corners at all hours of the day and night

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of ne'er-do-well

Noun

After seeing the flare, the ne'er-do-wells steal Hunter's car instead of calling for help. —

Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026 Butler portrays the charming ne'er-do-well Hank, an East Village bartender who loves his mom, baseball and girlfriend Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz). —

Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025 Who amongst us hasn't wanted to enjoy the spoils of a ne'er-do-well's criminal enterprises? —

Chris Haslam, Wired News, 23 May 2025 How To Solve Today’s Wordle The Hint: Useful for protecting your home from disaster or ne'er-do-wells. —

Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 Oct 10, 2024 Gulf Coast Reporter Chris Gray is Chron's Gulf Coast Reporter, covering tourism and tourists, energy and the environment, overachievers and ne'er-do-wells: compelling stories from across the upper Texas coast, but with a deep focus on Galveston's rich history and culture. —

Chris Gray, Chron, 10 Oct. 2024 Rickman's agent was flooded with offers, beseeching the actor to play more debonair ne'er-do-wells. —

Clark Collis, EW.com, 25 May 2023 In April, the company had to temporarily shut down service in Chicago when ne'er-do-wells managed to fraudulently rent and then steal 100 Mercedes-Benz vehicles off the street. —

Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ne'er-do-well

Adjective

Many universities make that experience as deluxe as possible, with posh amenities such as upscale dorms and lazy rivers.

— Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
Largely true to the novel, the first TV adaptation aims for similar endurance, like it was made for teachers to screen on a lazy Friday afternoon after a week spent discussing the book.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 May 2026