Definitions

do-nothing

[doo-nuhth-ing] / ˈduˌnʌθ ɪŋ /

NOUN

lazy person

Synonyms

STRONG

bum deadbeat good-for-nothing goof off idler laggard layabout lazybones loafer lounger malingerer moocher shirker slacker sloth sponger

WEAK

clock watcher couch potato lazy person lotus eater

Antonyms

STRONG

hard worker

VERB

be idle

Synonyms

STRONG

idle laze lounge around not lift a finger relax twiddle one's thumbs

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the flip side is also false — that you need only sit back and do nothing, and you’ll get rich.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

The caribou population will be lost if we do nothing.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026

"We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us," he has written.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

And his thick skin will do nothing to prevent it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

“No; you are less than a servant, for you do nothing for your keep. There, sit down, and think over your wickedness.”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

do-nothing

Example Sentences

Related Words