English Dictionary

Definition of “ne'er-do-well”

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ne'er-do-well

Definitions

noun

  1. an improvident, irresponsible, or lazy person

adjective

  1. useless; worthless ⇒ your ne'er-do-well schemes

Example Sentences Including 'ne'er-do-well'

Bill Bunn Santa Claus has a long-lost ne'er-do-well brother.
Globe and Mail (2003)
Born in 1888, he saw his father George (a spendthrift, alcoholic and ne'er-do-well ) maybe twice.
Misc (1999)
Give money to a ne'er-do-well relative and you will feel exploited; turn your back on him and you'll feel guilty.
Times, Sunday Times (2004)
I failed to tell you all that, unlike me, Dickie is no rake nor ne'er-do-well.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A Countess Ashby de la Zouche Mystery (2002)
I remember feeling quite sorry for the fellow, thinking of him trudging around in dead of night for that ne'er-do-well , Rakewell.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A Countess Ashby de la Zouche Mystery (2002)
Litvinoff was a ne'er-do-well East End Jew, born in 1928 into a family of eight, that included two noted writers.
Shawn Levy READY, STEADY, GO!: Swinging London and the Invention of Cool (2002)
Oh, only a young lord who has lived his whole life as a ne'er-do-well.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A Countess Ashby de la Zouche Mystery (2002)
Orange plays The Liberator, a dreamy ne'er-do-well with a taste for poetry and alcohol.
Independent (1999)

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