Meaning of ne'er-do-well | Babel Free

Definitions

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

Examples

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

“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.”

CEFR level