ne'er-do-well

Definitions

A person who is lazy, irresponsible, or unlikely to succeed.

An idle or disreputable person who fails to achieve anything of value.

Examples

The local ne'er-do-well was constantly causing trouble for the shopkeepers on Main Street.

Despite his family's efforts to help him find a steady job, he remained a hopeless ne'er-do-well who spent his days idling at the park.

Synonyms

good-for-nothing slacker wastrel loafer layabout idler vagabond

Antonyms

achiever go-getter hard worker model citizen industrious person productive individual upstanding person