as in slug
a lazy person
he snapped instructions to the deadbeats who were standing around watching the work pile up
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 deadbeat
Zoey’s deadbeat father, who left her as a baby to become a rock star, does not show up to do any sort of healing.
—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
Andres was born in Cuba to a deadbeat alcoholic who beat him, according to his attorneys.
—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
20 Nov. 2025
The world’s biggest deadbeat has passed the begging bowl again.
—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Keery, with a dirty-blond dye job and a sweet deadbeat demeanor, might draw some Stranger Things fans, especially since the mix of ‘80s nostalgia with creeping dread, gory set-pieces, droll character banter and humor hatched out of fear land somewhere near that show’s tonal wavelength.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
Andres was born in Cuba to a deadbeat alcoholic who beat him, according to his attorneys.
—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
20 Nov. 2025
The world’s biggest deadbeat has passed the begging bowl again.
—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Keery, with a dirty-blond dye job and a sweet deadbeat demeanor, might draw some Stranger Things fans, especially since the mix of ‘80s nostalgia with creeping dread, gory set-pieces, droll character banter and humor hatched out of fear land somewhere near that show’s tonal wavelength.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for deadbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadbeat
Noun
-
Calendula Calendula’s fleshy leaves, stems, and flowers also draw slugs and snails away from other crops and can be interplanted in food or flower gardens for natural slug control.
-
Dunlap explains that these pungent compounds deter strawberry-loving garden pests like slugs and aphids while also acting as mild fungicides.
Noun
-
Pyrotecnico, a national fireworks and drones display business, is in charge of the spectacle.
-
As a result, Skywalkers hovers between a sense of constant performance and disarming immediacy — the latter generally during the many vertigo-inducing drone shots of Ivan and Angela’s hair-raising accomplishments.
Noun
-
Calendula Calendula’s fleshy leaves, stems, and flowers also draw slugs and snails away from other crops and can be interplanted in food or flower gardens for natural slug control.
-
The game was crawling along at a snail’s pace with a rare boundary here and there.
Noun
-
Designed with a plunging neckline, modest bum coverage, and compressive fabric with UPF 50 sun protection, the elegant silhouette offers rich-girl vacation energy that could easily double as a bodysuit with shorts.
-
For those caught unaware, the flies will also happily lay eggs in convenient openings such as the nose, mouth, ears, eyes, and even the bum, if available.
Noun
-
Marlon's Shorty Meeks is in his 25th year of high school, but has made millions as a layabout live-streamer.
-
When layabout postman Jesper gets assigned to the frozen town of Smeerensburg with an ultimatum to process 6,000 letters, a reclusive toymaker might be his only hope.
Cite this Entry
“Deadbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadbeat. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
