: marked by inactivity or failure to make positive progress
Examples of do-nothing in a Sentence
Noun
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Christy Merrick, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Siri needs a facelift Apple has apparently been riding the do-nothing train for 14 years.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2025
Then in the span of two touchdown drives, sandwiched around a do-nothing offensive possession, four defensive penalties crippled Denver’s defense.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 19 Dec. 2024
The Senate brought up a border bill over the last week, but the opposition killed it.
Democrats and Republicans are pointing fingers at each other and accusing each other of being do-nothings.
—David Plazas, The Tennessean, 28 May 2024
This count alleges a multipronged bribery conspiracy to help ComEd pass important legislation in exchange for hiring at least five Madigan associates as do-nothing consultants, paying a total of $1.3 million over nearly eight years of the conspiracy.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 7 Oct. 2024
But like a do-nothing getaway undone by a lack of basic planning, the series puts too much trust in its pretty surroundings and equally handsome cast to carry the trip.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2024
However, if Harris appoints a qualified moderate such as Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, opposition Republicans will pay a political price by validating the narrative of a do-nothing Republican Congress intent only on obstruction.
—Allan J. Lichtman, New York Daily News, 19 July 2024
The outside view largely is of a do-nothing summer by the Miami Heat, with 11 players returning from the roster that recorded just one playoff win last season.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 July 2024
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.
Noun
Many of these new candidates will be ordinary citizens who are fed up with the feckless and do-nothing politics of the Democratic establishment.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Christy Merrick, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Siri needs a facelift Apple has apparently been riding the do-nothing train for 14 years.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2025
Then in the span of two touchdown drives, sandwiched around a do-nothing offensive possession, four defensive penalties crippled Denver’s defense.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 19 Dec. 2024
The Senate brought up a border bill over the last week, but the opposition killed it.
Democrats and Republicans are pointing fingers at each other and accusing each other of being do-nothings.
—David Plazas, The Tennessean, 28 May 2024
This count alleges a multipronged bribery conspiracy to help ComEd pass important legislation in exchange for hiring at least five Madigan associates as do-nothing consultants, paying a total of $1.3 million over nearly eight years of the conspiracy.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 7 Oct. 2024
But like a do-nothing getaway undone by a lack of basic planning, the series puts too much trust in its pretty surroundings and equally handsome cast to carry the trip.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2024
However, if Harris appoints a qualified moderate such as Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, opposition Republicans will pay a political price by validating the narrative of a do-nothing Republican Congress intent only on obstruction.
—Allan J. Lichtman, New York Daily News, 19 July 2024
The outside view largely is of a do-nothing summer by the Miami Heat, with 11 players returning from the roster that recorded just one playoff win last season.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Do-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do-nothing. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share