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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deadbeat
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
After a strange meteor crash lands in his backyard and turns his deadbeat father into a brain-eating zombie, Bucky and his friends seize the opportunity to create the ultimate horror flick, starring his undead dad.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
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.
—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
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 Oct. 2024
After a strange meteor crash lands in his backyard and turns his deadbeat father into a brain-eating zombie, Bucky and his friends seize the opportunity to create the ultimate horror flick, starring his undead dad.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
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.
—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
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadbeat
Noun
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The campground setting has a primeval feel, situated in dense old growth forest along the scenic Smith River, where banana slugs frolic (okay, maybe move slowly and strangely).—
Jenna Blough,
Outside Online,
8 Apr. 2025
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Witnessing Shohei Ohtani slug a walk-off home run on the night he’s honored with his own bobblehead: priceless!—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This year’s honorees include founders across robotics, drones, offshore wind turbine operators and beyond.—
Hannah Hall,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Russian forces over the last month have dropped 2,800 air bombs on Ukraine, fired more than 1,400 drones – including 62 Shahed drones Sunday night – and levied some 60 other missiles of various types, according to The Associated Press.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Her motifs—flags, dominoes, seashells, snails, moons, eggs, owls—only heighten the otherworldliness.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
ARTnews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Related species are already being studied for pain treatments, so these venomous snails could also hold some medical potential.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 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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Moore’s then-husband Bruce Willis plays against-type as the abusive layabout husband of hairdresser Joyce (Glenne Headly).—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
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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
Noun
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One snap shows the Live with Kelly and Mark host sans clothing save for a dark trench coat, knee-high socks and a pair of loafers.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The woven design of the fabric is an elevated upgrade to the classic pique polo in your closet to wear under an unstructured blazer with a matching pants, classic indigo jeans or even khaki shorts with a stellar pair of loafers to complete the look.—
Adam Mansuroglu,
Footwear News,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deadbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadbeat. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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