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
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Recent Examples of amateur
Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Rimet, the instigator of the World Cup, was an enthusiastic supporter of professional soccer at a time when amateur sport was considered superior.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Adjective
He was picked up by their city rivals Everton while playing for amateur team Whiston Juniors in the local St Helens League, but was initially sent to an academy development centre for further assessment.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Rimet, the instigator of the World Cup, was an enthusiastic supporter of professional soccer at a time when amateur sport was considered superior.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amateur
Adjective
-
The team overachieved this season partly because Mazzulla turned an inexperienced supporting cast into a strength.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Short selling can be an intellectually demanding approach to the market, and many inexperienced traders fall into a trap, lured by overvaluation and hype.—
David Capablanca,
Forbes.com,
28 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
-
The Bawah Survivor programme has a beginner-level escape room/scavenger hunt up to an advanced level, where guests can overnight in the open on the outer islands.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Zone 2 is still well-suited for beginners, older adults, and injury recovery.—
Allison Palmer
June 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 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
-
Karpman is an evangelist for the sport as being one that amateur hobbyists can grow with over time.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
28 May 2026
-
Two hobbyists recently uncovered one of the largest Viking coin hoards ever found — fittingly, in a Nordic country.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
And a new feature called side-slip control enabled even novice drivers to slide through corners like Ken Block.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
28 May 2026
-
To make the process even easier for novices, the M2 leverages AI to detect the type of materials inserted and automatically adjust the settings for cutting, engraving, or just scoring to make thinner materials easier to flex and fold.—
Andrew Liszewski,
The Verge,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Despite its nonprofessional and online character, metajournalism is then regarded as an integral part of journalism itself.—
Steve Paulussen,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
-
That’s precisely Dumont’s intention — freedom is fun and scary — but the choice is sure to raise eyebrows among critics of the director, who has historically been called out for his work with nonprofessional actors.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
School kids arrived on field trips and groups lined up for exhibitions, taking the escalators up past the abstract artist Julie Mehretu’s vibrant, 83-foot-tall vertical window.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
Bell-to-bell phone bans are among the strategies proposed in a new Surgeon General's advisory warning of the threat excessive screen time can pose to kids.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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