Synonyms of ne'er-do-well

ne'er-do-well 1 of 2

adjective

as in lazy

having no ambition, success, or value to society

the ne'er-do-well denizens of a seedy bar near the docks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lazy
• good-for-nothing
• worthless
• no-good
• idle
• shiftless
• useless
• slothful
• indolent
• no-account
• unambitious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ambitious
• industrious
• diligent
• enterprising

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bum
• hobo
• derelict
• beggar
• good-for-nothing
• no-account
• slacker
• vagrant
• dodger
• do-nothing
• no-good
• no-goodnik
• drifter
• transient
• tramp
• vagabond
• urchin
• roamer
• shirker
• panhandler
• waif
• idler
• sundowner
• indigent
• down-and-out
• ragamuffin
• slug
• sluggard
• loafer
• pauper
• goldbrick
• lazybones
• slouch
• drone
• gamine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• winner

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ne'er-do-well

Noun

Though Stinky Pete turns out to be a ne'er-do-well, Jessie is a valuable new pal who reveals her own trauma from being donated by her kid. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 19 June 2026

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

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

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