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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Recent Examples of rookies
Jordi Fernández has spent most of this season talking about the Nets’ own rookies, their growing pains, their flashes, their timelines.
—
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
As more rookies come in, that could put Lardis’ and other players’ spots in the top six in jeopardy.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
The Chargers drafted rookies Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith last year and still have young wideouts Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston in the fold, so bringing back Allen could just take away snaps from players the Chargers hope are the future of the position with the team.
—Logan Brown, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Raynaud, who came out of Stanford as the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft, leads all rookies with 17 double-doubles this season.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Mazzulla followed suit, giving 10-day signee Charles Bassey and rookies Amari Williams, Max Shulga and John Tonje some run in garbage time.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
The two rookies homered in each of their first three major league games.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
The veterans on the roster knew this, and openly talked about it last season, waiting patiently for the rookies to turn the corner.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Hill, coincidentally a Duke product like Flagg and Knueppel, was that season’s leading All-Star game vote-getter among all players, not just rookies.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
As more rookies come in, that could put Lardis’ and other players’ spots in the top six in jeopardy.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
The Chargers drafted rookies Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith last year and still have young wideouts Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston in the fold, so bringing back Allen could just take away snaps from players the Chargers hope are the future of the position with the team.
—Logan Brown, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Raynaud, who came out of Stanford as the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft, leads all rookies with 17 double-doubles this season.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Mazzulla followed suit, giving 10-day signee Charles Bassey and rookies Amari Williams, Max Shulga and John Tonje some run in garbage time.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
The two rookies homered in each of their first three major league games.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
The veterans on the roster knew this, and openly talked about it last season, waiting patiently for the rookies to turn the corner.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Hill, coincidentally a Duke product like Flagg and Knueppel, was that season’s leading All-Star game vote-getter among all players, not just rookies.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rookies
Noun
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In China, OpenClaw has received a particularly fervent welcome among AI enthusiasts and novices alike.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
-
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,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Contestants range from beginners to experienced builders, offering a cross-section of skill levels that reflect how cosplay develops over time.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
So, beginners might not get perfect results on the first try.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Fabulous freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic combined for just 11 points in that game.—
Ryan Baker,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The limit is predicated on the idea that athletes should finish their collegiate careers around the same time as their classmates and shouldn’t hold roster spots that would otherwise go to incoming freshmen or transfer students.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The other two Democratic opponents are political newcomers.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
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With 40-plus newcomers joining the roster in the offseason, coach Scott Frost wants his team to get tougher, be more disciplined and more precise.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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According to accounts by the architect’s apprentices, the design came together in a matter of hours.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
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Rock stars and their equivalents in other genres often develop their craft in obscurity before being discovered; idols are apprentices, trained exhaustively by their management companies.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rookies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rookies. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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