as in slug
a lazy person
he snapped instructions to the deadbeats who were standing around watching the work pile up
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Recent Examples of deadbeat
Hulu 11 of 15 Shameless (2011–2021) Shameless centers around the impoverished Gallagher clan, whose deadbeat patriarch Frank (William H. Macy) leaves his six children to fend for themselves, with the oldest, Fiona (Emmy Rossum), doing her best to support the family.
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Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2024
Advertisement When some of the families later sued, authorities often used information from those interviews to portray the deceased as mentally ill criminals or deadbeat parents while defending their agencies in court.
—Brian Howey, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2024
Here's an idea: Don't be a deadbeat and do it yourself!
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 30 July 2024
The Learning Curve The stigma over being a stay-at-home dad holds everyone back
Too many people still view stay-at-home dads as feckless deadbeats, but their acceptance is an important step toward gender equality.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2024
Advertisement When some of the families later sued, authorities often used information from those interviews to portray the deceased as mentally ill criminals or deadbeat parents while defending their agencies in court.
—Brian Howey, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2024
Here's an idea: Don't be a deadbeat and do it yourself!
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 30 July 2024
The Learning Curve The stigma over being a stay-at-home dad holds everyone back
Too many people still view stay-at-home dads as feckless deadbeats, but their acceptance is an important step toward gender equality.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadbeat
Noun
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These larvae then either bore into or are eaten by slugs or snails.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
11 Mar. 2025
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Red-eared slider turtles may chow down on earthworms, snails, slugs and leafy greens, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.—
Olivia Munson,
USA TODAY,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Houthis had launched missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels traversing the Red Sea and neighboring Gulf of Aden throughout last year, forcing ocean carriers to avoid the trip through the Suez Canal and instead reroute ships around southern Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Mar. 2025
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Authorities resumed the search at 6 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 9, employing drones and helicopters from the country’s armed forces, the agency stated in an update on Instagram alongside footage of the beach search.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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After receiving the snails from local snail farms, the small creatures were placed inside machines where they were sprayed with an acidic solution that caused the snails to excrete their slime.—
Sam Delgado,
Vox,
17 Mar. 2025
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Columbia plays at a snail’s pace, averaging 68.4 possessions per 40 minutes.—
Michael Waterloo,
The Athletic,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This was all done with a bum wrist, which posed as an inconvenience to him at times.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2024
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Tommy, left to prosecute the case against Rusty, has inherited a bum gig.—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
26 July 2024
Noun
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In Yancheng, in eastern China, the police have checked karaoke bars, rental housing and hotels for potential layabouts.—
Vivian Wang,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
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Republicans consistently slander disability recipients as malingerers and layabouts.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Dress it up with trousers and loafers, or go for a casual look with blue jeans and sneakers.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
19 Mar. 2025
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Layer with a crisp button-down, and complete the look with classic loafers or pointed-toe heels.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Essence,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deadbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadbeat. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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