ne'er-do-wells
Lazy, irresponsible people
Ne'er-do-wells are people who are idle, irresponsible, or generally useless—those who never do well at anything.
The term carries a tone of mild contempt or exasperation rather than harsh condemnation: Her brother was one of those charming ne'er-do-wells who drifted from scheme to scheme.
The singular is ne'er-do-well.
Dishonest, unprincipled people
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
- miscreantsWrongdoers or lawbreakers
- lawbreakersPeople who violate statutes
- delinquentsYoung criminals or troublemakers
crooks · petty thieves · pickpockets · swindlers · con artists · fraudsters · hoodlums · gangsters
Idle, unproductive people
- wastrelsHabitual reckless spenders
- idlersHabitually unproductive people
- loafersLaceless slip-on shoes
- good-for-nothingsWorthless, unproductive individuals
deadbeats · slackers · shirkers · freeloaders · moochers · drifters · vagrants · bums
Evil characters in narratives
- scallywagsMischievous people, often children
- rapscallionsMischievous troublemakers
- knavesDeceitful, unscrupulous men
- blackguardsContemptible, unprincipled persons
cads · rascals · reprobates · scalawags · varlets · bounders · rotters · charlatans
scoundrels
Dishonest, unprincipled people
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
- miscreantsWrongdoers or lawbreakers
- lawbreakersPeople who violate statutes
delinquents · crooks · petty thieves · pickpockets · swindlers · con artists · fraudsters · hoodlums · gangsters · racketeers
layabouts
Idle, unproductive people
good-for-nothings · deadbeats · slackers · shirkers · freeloaders · moochers · drifters · vagrants · bums · vagabonds
villains
Evil characters in narratives
- scallywagsMischievous people, often children
- rapscallionsMischievous troublemakers
- knavesDeceitful, unscrupulous men
blackguards · cads · rascals · reprobates · scalawags · varlets · bounders · rotters · charlatans · mountebanks
ne'er-do-wellsachievers
Those who accomplish goals
high achievers · go-getters · strivers · overachievers · successes
ne'er-do-wellsstraight arrows
Conventional, upstanding people
good eggs · salt of the earth · pillars of the community · saints · stand-up guys
ne'er-do-wellspillars of the community
Respected, influential local figures
pillars of society · worthies · notables · dignitaries · leading lights