as in amateur
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession
a book on crafting fine wood furniture that is intended for the home hobbyist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 hobbyist
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
Sanders has the name recognition to be collectible, but players who are backups on bad teams don’t usually resonate with hobbyists.
—Benjamin Burrows, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Which means the population of people who can plausibly help — neighbors, friends, hobbyists, semi-retired pros — just expanded by an order of magnitude.
—Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
Relying too heavily on apps can short-circuit the development of a hobbyist’s botanical knowledge and observation skills.
—Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
That figure includes Big Mining, but, this year, the Gold Prospectors Association of America, an organization for hobbyists, saw its first-quarter enrollment double from that of last year.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Geranium Society members and hobbyists will share expertise on cultivation and propagation.
—Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Saluti’s hedge-funder husband Joe was a passionate hobbyist woodworker and turned that sketch into a birthday present, a custom piece made from carved walnut.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
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
Sanders has the name recognition to be collectible, but players who are backups on bad teams don’t usually resonate with hobbyists.
—Benjamin Burrows, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Which means the population of people who can plausibly help — neighbors, friends, hobbyists, semi-retired pros — just expanded by an order of magnitude.
—Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
Relying too heavily on apps can short-circuit the development of a hobbyist’s botanical knowledge and observation skills.
—Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
That figure includes Big Mining, but, this year, the Gold Prospectors Association of America, an organization for hobbyists, saw its first-quarter enrollment double from that of last year.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Geranium Society members and hobbyists will share expertise on cultivation and propagation.
—Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Saluti’s hedge-funder husband Joe was a passionate hobbyist woodworker and turned that sketch into a birthday present, a custom piece made from carved walnut.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hobbyist
Noun
-
Thanks to advanced performance technology, players are much better prepared for professional baseball coming out of the amateur ranks, and prospects have a much better chance of early success in the major leagues.—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
One analyst even declared the kidnapping the work of a lone amateur despite having described it as a sophisticated group of abductors just a couple weeks earlier.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
12 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
Cite this Entry
“Hobbyist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hobbyist. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
