1
as in amateur
being such only for recreation
a toolshed that can be built by any jackleg carpenter who's capable of hitting a nail without smashing his thumb
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in inexperienced
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
he did such a jackleg installation of that door frame that now the door won't shut
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
a jackleg lawyer whose clients consist mainly of drug dealers and child molesters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in kid
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science
you can't rely on a bunch of jacklegs to run your dairy farm
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jackleg
Adjective
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Well, the moon-planet-star trio are among the brightest objects in our solar system, meaning the impending conjunction should be incredibly easy to spot for even the most amateur astronomers.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Sep. 2025 -
When an amateur true crime investigator arrives with the intention of tracking down the town's serial killer, the unlikely pair strike a truce to avoid being caught – and might just find a love story in their own madness.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Clearly frustrated, Palencia gave up five runs and recorded zero outs during the ninth inning of that 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals, a last-place team with a largely inexperienced and nondescript lineup.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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Having won five straight Ryder Cups and 12 of the last 13, the American team entered as the heavy favorite despite fielding a relatively inexperienced squad.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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According to the latest 2024 Transparency International report, the Americas average 42 out of 100 points on a scale where 100 is very transparent and zero is very corrupt.—
Sofía Benavides,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
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With the help of Landy and Nicky Parsons, Bourne goes up against Vosen (David Strathairn), the corrupt director of Operation Blackbriar.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Your child isn't just competing with the kid next door for college admission or job opportunities.—
Jaime Catmull,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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And anxiety about our kids and our grandkids.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Under her leadership, the NYBG’s research team has expanded to 81 projects across 79 countries to conserve disappearing plant species, restore degraded ecosystems, and breed crops to withstand drought, sea level rise and extreme heat under climate change.—
Eduardo Garcia,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Smoke will also lead to degraded air quality.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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NurPhoto via Getty Images Arizona’s Horseshoe Bend Trail is the second-best hiking trail for beginners, the InsureMyTrip study says.—
Gary Stoller,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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At Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, the 19 miles of challenging trails (ranging from the beginner-friendly Family Flow to experts-only Drop the Hammer, which includes a 12-foot plunge) aren’t the only attractions.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To be that sad and sick with the most blessings/privilege/opportunity/love around me was quite possibly the most confusing thing ever.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
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Our health care system focuses on treating sick patients.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Jackleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackleg. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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