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amateur

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noun

1
as in tinkerer
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession an amateur photographer who has won a number of photo contests

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in beginner
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science a homemade doghouse that looked like it was built by an amateur who hadn't mastered basic carpentry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun amateur differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of amateur are dabbler, dilettante, and tyro. While all these words mean "a person who follows a pursuit without attaining proficiency or professional status," amateur often applies to one practicing an art without mastery of its essentials; in sports it may also suggest not so much lack of skill but avoidance of direct remuneration.

a painting obviously done by an amateur
remained an amateur despite lucrative offers

In what contexts can dabbler take the place of amateur?

While the synonyms dabbler and amateur are close in meaning, dabbler suggests desultory habits of work and lack of persistence.

a dabbler who started novels but never finished them

When is it sensible to use dilettante instead of amateur?

The words dilettante and amateur can be used in similar contexts, but dilettante may apply to the lover of an art rather than its skilled practitioner but usually implies elegant trifling in the arts and an absence of serious commitment.

had no patience for dilettantes

When might tyro be a better fit than amateur?

The words tyro and amateur are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tyro implies inexperience often combined with audacity with resulting crudeness or blundering.

shows talent but is still a mere tyro

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of amateur
Noun
Several videos circulating on social media demonstrate not only the exceptional nature of the play, but also how much the moment meant to the World No. 91 amateur. Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025 Gaskins said the policy change benefits the city’s prospects for hosting major league professional and elite amateur teams in the future, and, at the same time, provides young residents and visitors with opportunities to participate in evening sports. Lee Igel, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 The annual amateur draft begins Sunday night with the first three rounds and continues on Monday with rounds 4-20. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2025 What seems to have been the clinching evidence for its interstellar nature emerged from the efforts of a group of amateur astronomers, called the Deep Random Survey, who were the first to track the object down in images other ATLAS telescopes had captured in late June. Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for amateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amateur
Noun
  • The Cobbler shaker features three pieces and is the most common for home use and beginner bartenders.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 23 July 2025
  • Aloe vera is low-maintenance, making the houseplant an excellent option for beginner houseplant owners, who don’t have much time for excessive plant care.
    Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • Again, avocational people being kind of ahead of the archaeological profession.
    Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024
  • The avocational musicians rehearse three hours each Monday evening through the academic year, with two additional rehearsals during concert weeks.
    Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
Noun
  • For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again.
    Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
  • These tools power cybercrime, automating sophisticated attacks and enabling novices to deploy phishing, malware or social engineering campaigns with ease.
    Skip Sanzeri, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • Those seeking advanced degrees in nonprofessional areas, such as history or philosophy, will be subject to an annual borrowing cap of $20,500 and a lifetime limit of $100,000.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 11 July 2025
  • Most of the nonprofessional adult actors Burnett paid with gratitude or with beer.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • How many kids can one person chaperone at the Indiana State Fair?
    Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 24 July 2025
  • Whether kids are seeing real stars like Bill Murray or Mckenna Grace, or just someone from a fan club, the effect is the same.
    Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • Quinn’s role as Eddie Munson, a heavy metal enthusiast and leader of the Hellfire Club, on season four of Stranger Things marked his breakout role in Hollywood.
    Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • The new ownership piloted the 2004 launch of the Pershing 50, which proved popular with speed enthusiasts who also wanted comfort and style.
    Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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