ne'er-do-well

noun
UK: /ˌneə(r) duː ˈwel/
US: /ˌner duː ˈwel/

  1. A person who is lazy and does not want to work or be successful.

    1. He's a ne'er-do-well, always borrowing money.
    2. The family considered him a ne'er-do-well because he never held a job for long.

  2. Someone who is considered worthless or unreliable; a good-for-nothing person.

    1. That ne'er-do-well is always causing trouble.
    2. Everyone in town sees him as a ne'er-do-well who cannot be trusted with important tasks.

Synonyms

layabout loafer wastrel good-for-nothing idler
ne'er-do-well adjective

  1. Describes someone who is lazy, irresponsible, and unlikely to succeed.

    1. He has a ne'er-do-well brother.
    2. She refused to marry the ne'er-do-well son of the wealthy landowner.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ne'er-do-well" in English means: A person who is lazy and does not want to work or be successful., Someone who is considered worthless or unreliable; a good-for-nothing person..

The phonetic transcription of "ne'er-do-well" is /ˌneə(r) duː ˈwel/ in British English and /ˌner duː ˈwel/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "ne'er-do-well": layabout, loafer, wastrel, good-for-nothing, idler.

Example usage of "ne'er-do-well": "He's a ne'er-do-well, always borrowing money.". More examples on the page.