as in slug
a lazy person
she regretted ever asking that layabout to be her roommate, as he created the mess of two people and refused to help with anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of layabout
Terry described Simon — the brother of his late wife —as a layabout who tried to make money by playing various lotteries all day.
—
John Annese, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2024
The adventurous will find isolation on an epic scale on northern Iceland's windswept landscape, the traditional serenity on a private island off of Anguilla, and the bohemian layabouts a haven in a compound on the Andalusian coast.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Feb. 2023
For decades, American life has been dominated by layabouts—by a broad, bi-coastal, bipartisan elite of non-workers.
—James K. Galbraith, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2019
You might be tempted to regard early retirees as layabouts, soaking up sunshine while everyone else toils.
—Amy X. Wang, New York Times, 7 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for layabout
John Annese, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2024
The adventurous will find isolation on an epic scale on northern Iceland's windswept landscape, the traditional serenity on a private island off of Anguilla, and the bohemian layabouts a haven in a compound on the Andalusian coast.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Feb. 2023
For decades, American life has been dominated by layabouts—by a broad, bi-coastal, bipartisan elite of non-workers.
—James K. Galbraith, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2019
You might be tempted to regard early retirees as layabouts, soaking up sunshine while everyone else toils.
—Amy X. Wang, New York Times, 7 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for layabout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layabout
Noun
-
Here’s how to keep slugs from destroying your garden.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The infection can come from a few sources: raw or undercooked snails or slugs, vegetables or fruit that have been contaminated by snails, slugs or flatworms or their slime, or by eating infected hosts like land crabs, freshwater prawns or frogs, doctors said.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The intensive Ukrainian jamming has also grounded many of Russia’s drones, compelling desperate Russian operators to switch to pricier fiber-optic drones that send and receive signals via long thin cables instead of via radio.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The Russian and Ukrainian armies are pressed up against each other, and constantly exchanging drone and artillery fire.—
Keith Gessen,
The New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This was all done with a bum wrist, which posed as an inconvenience to him at times.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2024
-
Tommy, left to prosecute the case against Rusty, has inherited a bum gig.—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
26 July 2024
Noun
-
Things take a serious turn when Vince’s deadbeat son Rocco (Lewis Pullman) shows up unannounced with his pregnant girlfriend, Marina (Emanuela Postacchini), and alcoholic mother, Ruth (Jennifer Coolidge).—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The Season 4, Part 1 finale contains one whopper of a revelation: JJ’s deadbeat father, Luke, isn’t his real dad.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
11 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Hadid arrived at the Le Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris for the Schiaparelli fall 2025 show, dressed in a black waxed leather bomber jacket, black straight leg jeans, and loafers.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2025
-
There are also selvedge denim jeans, tassel loafers, a field jacket, and a lightweight pique blazer.—
Samantha Conti,
WWD,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
His discoveries promise to upset the gaming tables of every school of thought that wagers on new and untested art for idlers’ rewards: the love of novelty, the will to make or unmake reputations, the wish to be hip or au courant.—
Mark Greif,
Harper's Magazine,
26 July 2024
-
Their name exudes the essence of an idler and slacker, but women’s loafers themselves are quite the opposite.—
Gaby Keiderling,
Harper's BAZAAR,
19 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
The borosilicate glass vessel features a small snail climbing up the side, and there’s a little glass twig too.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appétit,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Tropical air-breathing snails lined its shores and shelled creatures lay just below the surface.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Scar then proceeds to desolate the kingdom, with the help of hyenas, while Simba, in exile, grows up to become a pleasure-hunting, grub-eating sluggard.—
Anthony Lane,
The New Yorker,
19 July 2019
-
Clearly, supervision at your job is lax, and your sluggard classmate is taking advantage of that.—
Kwame Anthony Appiah,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Layabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layabout. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share