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What is another word for Ne’er-Do-Well? – 139 Ne’er-Do-Well Synonyms

    Need another word for Ne'er-Do-Well? Use these synonyms of Ne'er-Do-Well from our thesaurus to say it differently.


    Synonyms & Similar Words

    idler loafer sluggard layabout good-for-nothing wastrel spendthrift profligate ne'er-do-well vagabond vagrant tramp hobo beggar panhandler idler do-nothing lazybones shirker malingerer goldbrick parasite leech sponger moocher freeloader cadger scrounger bum deadbeat good-for-nothing riffraff rabble scourge pest nuisance troublemaker delinquent hoodlum thug rascal scamp rogue knave varlet

    Meaning of Ne'er-Do-Well

    A person who is idle and has no regular job or means of support.

    Definitions

    • A person who is lazy, idle, and has no regular job or means of support
    • * A person who is considered to be of no practical use or value
    • * A person who is irresponsible and causes trouble

    Etymology of Ne'er-Do-Well

    The term "Ne'er-Do-Well" originated in the 16th century, with "ne'er" meaning "never" and "do-well" meaning "to prosper or succeed"
    Historically, the phrase was used to describe someone who was considered to be a failure or a troublemaker

    Example Uses

    • The ne'er-do-well son spent all his inheritance on lavish parties and useless gadgets
    • * The town was plagued by a group of ne'er-do-wells who caused trouble and stole from the local shops
    • * The ne'er-do-well brother was always coming up with get-rich-quick schemes that never seemed to work

    Antonyms & Near Antonyms

    hardworker go-getter achiever high-achiever overachiever workaholic diligent industrious conscientious meticulous thorough responsible reliable dependable trustworthy law-abiding respectable respectable citizen model citizen pillar of the community good citizen upstanding citizen

    Related Nouns

    idleness laziness unemployment poverty vagrancy delinquency crime mischief trouble nuisance pest scourge plague infestation invasion occupation squatting loitering loiterer vagabond tramp hobo beggar

    Related Verbs

    idle loaf laze shirk malinger goldbrick scrounge mooch cadge beg panhandle freeload sponge leech trouble nuisance pester plague infest invade occupy squat loiter

    Related Adjectives

    idle lazy indolent slothful sluggish inactive unemployed poverty-stricken vagrant delinquent criminal mischievous troublesome pesky annoying irritating infesting invasive occupying squatting loitering good-for-nothing worthless useless unproductive unhelpful