ne'er-do-well

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈnɛə.duˌwɛl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈnɛʔɚ.duˌwɛl/, /ˈnɛɚ-/

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

ne'er-do-well (plural ne'er-do-wells)

1. A person without a means of support; an idle, worthless person; a loafer; a person who is ineffectual, unsuccessful, or completely lacking in merit; a good-for-nothing.
   • 1933, The Commonweal (volume 19, page 241)

     So they have trooped forth to organize village down-and-outs and ne'er-do-wells into would-be combat units.

   • 2012, Christoper Zara, Tortured Artists: From Picasso and Monroe to Warhol and Winehouse, the Twisted Secrets of the World's Most Creative Minds, part 1, chapter 1, 26:

     Clara's father, a trollish ne'er-do-well who spent most of his time in brothels and saloons, would disappear for days and weeks at a stretch, leaving Clara and her mother to fend for themselves.

2. A person who is up to no good; a rogue.

• good-for-nothing
• vagabond

• ne'er