as in novices
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
although a star in his old sport of basketball, he was still just a rookie as far as baseball was concerned
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rookies
Some of the most serious crimes were committed by veteran ICE employees and supervisors rather than rookies.
—
Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
None of those rookies seems on a path toward stardom or even a Pro Bowl.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
At the time of his injury, Skattebo ranked fourth in the NFL in points scored among offensive players and led all rookies in yards from scrimmage, per USA Today.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Three teams have been drafted from rookies and second-year players while a fourth team will be comprised of G League players.
—Dan Loumena, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The rookies were particularly impactful in this one.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
None of the investigators are rookies in the department, the sources in Pima County said.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Drake Powell had 14 points off the bench, rookies Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore each had 13 and Ziaire Williams added 11.
—CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Demidov among rookies in points (44).
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
None of those rookies seems on a path toward stardom or even a Pro Bowl.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
At the time of his injury, Skattebo ranked fourth in the NFL in points scored among offensive players and led all rookies in yards from scrimmage, per USA Today.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Three teams have been drafted from rookies and second-year players while a fourth team will be comprised of G League players.
—Dan Loumena, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The rookies were particularly impactful in this one.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
None of the investigators are rookies in the department, the sources in Pima County said.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Drake Powell had 14 points off the bench, rookies Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore each had 13 and Ziaire Williams added 11.
—CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Demidov among rookies in points (44).
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rookies
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,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Phil and Renee Shafer are the owners of Cast + Clara Bell, a resource for both cast-iron novices and collectors.—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Her curious nature and gardening knowledge were accessible to beginners and experienced green thumbs across Southern California.—
Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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While my group of beginners played on one half of the ice, across the ice was a league game at play among club members with less than five years of experience in the sport.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Their freshmen Killyan Toure, Dominykas Pleta, Jamarion Batemon,) are good.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
-
She’s spent the day helping freshmen learn essential skills and navigate the stresses of their first year of college.—
Tom Grimes,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For now, the opposition appears situated to fold in newcomers and build on the momentum.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The price of silver has slipped closer to $80 per ounce in the time since, but the precious metal's recent volatility has still drawn in both longtime investors and newcomers who are exploring alternatives to traditional portfolios.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
By drawing attention to practices at their most fragile moment, the USL is creating space for those interactions — enabling masters to teach and apprentices to learn.—
Kristin Houser,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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The pope, at this very moment, is having the fallen part of the Colosseum rebuilt; half a dozen mason’s apprentices, without any scaffolding, are righting the colossus on whose shoulders a nation, transformed into slave laborers, perished.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rookies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rookies. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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