no-good

1 of 2

adjective

ˈnō-ˈgu̇d How to pronounce no-good (audio)
Synonyms of no-goodnext
: having no worth, virtue, use, or chance of success
a no-good scoundrel

no-good

2 of 2

noun

ˈnō-ˌgu̇d How to pronounce no-good (audio)
: a no-good person or thing

Synonyms of no-good

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Adjective

Noun

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Examples of no-good in a Sentence

Adjective tired of supporting their spendthrift, no-good daughter, who has yet to find a job commensurate with her alleged abilities that no-good chair should be thrown away Noun neighbors remembered the killer as having been an utter no-good since childhood we'll have to pay more than minimum wage for the job if we expect to get people other than no-goods
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
And with nary a golfer from the upstart tour within eight strokes of Round 2 leader Wyndham Clark at 7 under par, LIV’s no-good, very bad 2026 continued Friday. — Matt Schubert, New York Times, 20 June 2026 With Ethan Hawke's newbie simmering against the go-for-broke finesse of Denzel Washington's very bad, no-good officer, Training Day revels in tension, with washes of blue and green augmenting scenes where Hawke is bullied into getting high. — Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Noun
Archie has a no-good, very-bad day, and Dylan goes to bat for her students. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026 This is going to be a horrible, terrible, no-good, very bad day. — Nathan Rott, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for no-good

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1904, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of no-good was in 1871

Rhymes for no-good

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Browse Nearby Words

no-go gage
no-good
no-goodnik
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“No-good.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/no-good. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

no-good

adjective
ˌnō-ˌgu̇d
: having no worth, use, or chance of success
no-good
ˈnō-ˌgu̇d
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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