Do-nothing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈdü-ˌnə-thiŋ/ do-noth·ing

Meaning & Definition of Do-nothing

Do-nothing (noun)

  1. a shiftless or lazy person

Do-nothing (adjective)

  1. marked by inactivity or failure to make positive progress

Do-nothing (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a lazy person

    "the new boss quickly figured out who the do-nothings were and fired them"

    similar: couch potato, deadbeat, drone, idler, layabout, lazybones, loafer, lotus-eater, slouch, slug, slugabed, sluggard
    related: bum, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, crawler, creeper, dawdler, laggard, putterer, slowpoke, snail, stick-in-the-mud, straggler, clock-watcher, goldbrick, malingerer, shirker, slacker, dallier, lingerer, loiterer, loller, lounger, saunterer, delayer, procrastinator, dropout, quitter
    opposite: doer, go-ahead, go-getter, hummer, hustler, self-starter
    near: achiever, comer, highflier, live wire, powerhouse

  2. an idle worthless person

    "he indiscriminately dismisses the state legislators as a bunch of do-nothings who live at the taxpayers' expense"

    similar: bum, derelict, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, no-account, no-good, no-goodnik, slacker, vagrant
    related: hobo, sundowner (Australian), tramp, vagabond, drifter, roamer, transient, beggar, panhandler, dodger, goldbrick, shirker, gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif, drone, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard, down-and-out, indigent, pauper
    near: success, winner

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Do-nothing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Do-nothing:

couch potato, deadbeat, drone, idler, layabout, lazybones, loafer, lotus-eater, slouch, slug, slugabed, sluggard, bum, derelict, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, no-account, no-good, no-goodnik, slacker, vagrant

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Do-nothing

Words with the opposite meaning of Do-nothing:

doer, go-ahead, go-getter, hummer, hustler, self-starter

Related Words for Do-nothing

crawler, creeper, dawdler, laggard, putterer, slowpoke, snail, stick-in-the-mud, straggler, clock-watcher, goldbrick, malingerer, shirker, dallier, lingerer, loiterer, loller, lounger, saunterer, delayer, procrastinator, dropout, quitter, hobo, sundowner, tramp, vagabond, drifter, roamer, transient

Near Antonyms of Do-nothing

achiever, comer, highflier, live wire, powerhouse, success, winner

Word Forms of Do-nothing

Derived words: do-nothingism (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Do-nothing

First known use: 1579

Frequently Asked Questions about Do-nothing

What does "Do-nothing" mean?

"Do-nothing" means a shiftless or lazy person. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a shiftless or lazy person. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Do-nothing"?

Other words for "Do-nothing" include couch potato, deadbeat, drone, idler, layabout, lazybones, loafer and lotus-eater. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Do-nothing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Do-nothing"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Do-nothing". Common alternatives include couch potato, deadbeat, drone, idler, layabout, lazybones, loafer, lotus-eater, slouch and slug.

What is the opposite of "Do-nothing"?

Antonyms of "Do-nothing" include doer, go-ahead, go-getter, hummer, hustler and self-starter. Near antonyms include achiever, comer, highflier and live wire.

How do you use "Do-nothing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Do-nothing" in a sentence: "the new boss quickly figured out who the do-nothings were and fired them"; "he indiscriminately dismisses the state legislators as a bunch of do-nothings who live at the taxpayers' expense".

Is "Do-nothing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Do-nothing" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Do-nothing"?

"Do-nothing" is pronounced /ˈdü-ˌnə-thiŋ/ and divided into syllables as do-noth·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Do-nothing"?

First known use: 1579.