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Glite Dictionary
🛋️ Inactive or passive 😴 An idle person
do-nothing

do-nothing

9 7.0
A person who avoids work and makes little effort
  • noun
  • /ˈduːˌnʌθɪŋ/
  • Offensive
translation icon : holgazán
  • The voters don't seem to have the smarts to quit voting for the same do-nothings.
  • the do-nothing Congress
  • do-nothing job
  • lazy do-nothing

Examples

  • Most Americans are sitting there at their do-nothing jobs, getting big paychecks to do nothing, then come home to:

    Blog text (9)

  • Are we letting these worthless do-nothings use us for their bank accounts?

    Blog text (12)

  • Just leave with the rest of the do nothing women.

    Women Talking (2022)

  • Here we got our funds doing nothing as usual me and more putting in the hard work.

  • Since then, he's done nothing to change my opinion of him.

    Blog text (17)

  • The current crop of do-nothings can't seem to do anything but bicker.

    Blog text (25)

  • It's time our elected officials start paying for their self-serving, politically aligned, do-nothing posturing.

    Blog text (25)

  • Many people see him as a do-nothing who never contributes to team projects.

  • The employees complained that their do-nothing manager rarely stepped in to help with tasks.

  • In a meeting, Sarah pointed out how the do-nothing attitude of some members was affecting the group's morale.

Synonyms

bum
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
142 7.2

A lazy person who others dislike for not working

is a neutral label for someone who avoids work or effort
slacker
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
33 4.6

A person who avoids work and often does very little

describes lack of effort or productivity without extra emphasis on habit
good-for-nothing
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
16 7.1

A person who is lazy and does nothing useful

focuses on not making effort rather than being morally worthless
loafer
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
5 5.8

A person who avoids work and does very little

focuses more on overall failure to be productive
ne'er-do-well
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
5 9.9

A person who is lazy, irresponsible, and does not try to succeed

describes mere avoidance of work without implying future failure
layabout
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
4 7.6

A person who often avoids work and does very little

captures the same avoidance but as a general lack of effort
idler
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
2 7.0

A person who avoids work and does very little

emphasizes avoiding productivity rather than simply being inactive
goof-off
vsdo-nothing
  • Informal
2 8.6

A person who avoids work and wastes time

describes overall avoidance rather than the specific act of wasting time
shirker
vsdo-nothing
1 8.0

A person who avoids work or responsibility, often by making excuses

avoids work generally without stressing deliberate intent
goldbrick
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
1 9.6

A person who avoids work by pretending to be busy

means avoidance without the added pretense of being occupied
bludger
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who avoids work and does very little

is the general descriptive term without marked slang tone
lazybones
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
1 7.2

A person who avoids work and prefers to rest

states the avoidance of work in plain, neutral phrasing
todger dodger
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who avoids work or duties by making excuses

is broader, meaning lack of productivity without excuse making
no-good slacker
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
8.4

A person who is very lazy and not responsible

simply avoids work without the added extreme moral judgment
piddler
vsdo-nothing
  • Informal
9.7

A person who wastes time on small unimportant tasks instead of doing useful work

refers more broadly to making no effort to be productive
lusk
vsdo-nothing
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who is lazy and avoids work

is the modern general term for avoiding work or effort

Antonyms

hard worker
33 1.3

A person who puts a lot of effort into their job or tasks

How Idle

do-nothing
  • Offensive
9 7.0
loafer
  • Offensive
5 5.8
slacker
  • Offensive
33 4.6
idler
  • Offensive
2 7.0

Surface Forms

do-nothing singular
do-nothings plural

Morphology

do-nothing = do + nothing (transparent) = do + nothing

The noun is a clear compound of 'do' + 'nothing' denoting a person who does nothing; learners familiar with the components can derive the meaning.

Etymology

The word do-nothing comes from the simple parts do ('to act') and nothing ('no thing'), so a do-nothing is literally someone who 'does nothing' and avoids work.