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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jackleg
Adjective
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Riz Ahmed stars in the film as Ash, an off-the-grid fixer who brokers deals between whistleblowers and corrupt corporations.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025 -
The misleading narrative about Halimi became central to DOGE’s argument; American foreign aid was corrupt and even, at times, funding America’s enemies — and that’s why DOGE had to take over.—
Avi Asher-Schapiro,
ProPublica,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Teenage dream: Katy Perry comes to the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday on her global The Lifetimes Tour, a sci-fi spectacle that has left some reviewers (professional and amateur) distracted by too much of … everything.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Aug. 2025
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Prior to the open era of tennis - a period beginning in 1968 when amateurs and pros were allowed to compete alongside one another for the first time - Norwegian-American player Molla Bjurstedt Mallory set a record as the oldest female winner in the singles division in 1926.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Smoke and particle pollution, primarily traced to wildfires burning in Canada, contributed to the degraded air quality, which officials said may persist until at least Thursday.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
-
On top of software setbacks, the OP said the vehicle's battery had to be replaced, but with a degraded unit that reduced range by 30 miles overnight.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
Noun
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Martha Atkins was something of a short-order cook for all the kids that came through the house.—
Bill Bowden,
Arkansas Online,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Based on the time of the social media post, the kids had just left after mowing the lawn of her Irvington neighborhood home.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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About 1 out of every 10 people who get sick with Legionnaires' disease may die because of complications from the illness.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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In Texas’s outbreak, which began in January in a largely unvaccinated population in Gaines County in West Texas, at least 762 people became sick, including the two children who died.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Thanks to a generous promontory, setting top ropes for beginners here is simple.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
28 Aug. 2025
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Emphasizing Pickleball Kingdom intends to offer benefits to players at all levels of the game including youths, people who have just started to play the game and seasoned athletes, Lake said there is a free offer to beginners.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Jackleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackleg. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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