1
as in inexperienced
being such only for recreation
an amateur cabinetmaker, he derives immense satisfaction from finely crafting his own furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in amateurish
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
in every room there were amateur watercolors, apparently the work of the innkeeper's wife
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of amateur
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 18 May 2026
Emerson, the team's top pick in the 2023 amateur draft, connected on a 2-2 pitch from Trevor Richards with two outs in the eighth to extend the lead to 6-1.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026
The cast and crew comprise both amateurs and professionals.
—Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Adjective
That proximity also means its trajectory will be visible to amateur telescopes.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 18 May 2026
Emerson, the team's top pick in the 2023 amateur draft, connected on a 2-2 pitch from Trevor Richards with two outs in the eighth to extend the lead to 6-1.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
Noun
Galifianakis’s appeal is as a wildly enthusiastic amateur.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026
The cast and crew comprise both amateurs and professionals.
—Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amateur
Adjective
-
The key with this inexperienced crew is patience.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
22 May 2026
-
When junior employees ask similar questions, it may be interpreted as being unprepared or inexperienced.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
The 19th-century patent system rewarded tinkerers; corporate labs scaled systematic research; wartime partnerships mobilized national resources; and venture capital democratized risk-taking.—
David H. Hsu,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
Unlike her earlier Fame Monster remixes, which served utilitarian club fodder to capitalize on her debut, Dawn delightfully surrendered its source material to a wise cast of pop, rap, and dance tinkerers like Ashnikko and Dorian Electra.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Replit has broad reach across beginners, educators and enterprises alike.—
Rebecca Fannin,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
Tomatoes are a fairly easy fruit to plant and take care, especially for beginner gardeners.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bartell, an avocational drummer and former public defender, had never owned or operated a concert venue before.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The Club’s motto, ‘Weaving spiders, come not here,’ conveys the Club’s character and purpose as a social, avocational organization.—
Wire Services,
Dallas News,
7 Apr. 2023
Noun
-
Group of beginners, hobbyists and professionals who like to take and share photos.—
Staff Report,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
-
Beyond employment, the flagship is designed to be a dynamic community hub, with plans to host ongoing workshops, seasonal demonstrations, and special events tailored for local homeowners, hobbyists, and entrepreneurs.—
Lucy Jones
May 12,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Because George, portrayed by Hugh Jackman, routinely read mysteries to his charges before his sudden demise, these sheep aren’t complete novices, said Wilson Chapman in IndieWire.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
18 May 2026
-
To my novice eye, Prysock moved without defect.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The film eliminated even a gesture toward a plot while showing solitary nonprofessional and real-life ranch-hand Misael Saavedra chopping and hauling logs in the Argentinian hinterlands (in actuality, Alonso’s family’s ranch).—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
-
Rising costs already limit access to higher education for many, and recent federal policies incorrectly classifying nursing as a nonprofessional degree will only further restrict access to financing for nursing school applicants.—
Nicholas A. Giordano,
STAT,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The kid from Sin City looked like a winner from the first pull, gaining 777 receiving yards with three TDs as a rookie.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Many other people reject formal education (for other people, though usually not for their own kids) as unnecessary to attaining the highest ranks of wealth and power.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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