Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After Dagobert's death these mayors practically ruled in the place of the Merovingian monarchs, who became mere "do-nothing kings,"—rois fainéants, as the French call them.

From An Introduction to the History of Western Europe by Robinson, James Harvey

Any quantity of heraldries of knaves and fainéants you may find in what they call their 'history': but this is probably the first time you ever read the name of Robert of Luzarches.

From Our Fathers Have Told Us Part I. The Bible of Amiens by Ruskin, John

Others are weaklings, fainéants; but one, the most dread woman in Frankish history, Fredegonda, the queen of Chilperic, towers above all in this masque of slaughter and treachery.

From Hero Tales and Legends of the Rhine by Spence, Lewis

Bold might the planton be; we were no fainéants.

From The Enormous Room by Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin)

"Il y debvroit avoir," says Montaigne, "quelque corection des loix contre les escrivains ineptes et inutiles, comme il y a contre les vagabonds et fainéants...."

From The Birth of Yugoslavia, Volume 2 by Baerlein, Henry