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amateur

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noun

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun amateur differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of amateur are dabbler, dilettante, and tyro. While all these words mean "a person who follows a pursuit without attaining proficiency or professional status," amateur often applies to one practicing an art without mastery of its essentials; in sports it may also suggest not so much lack of skill but avoidance of direct remuneration.

a painting obviously done by an amateur
remained an amateur despite lucrative offers

In what contexts can dabbler take the place of amateur?

While the synonyms dabbler and amateur are close in meaning, dabbler suggests desultory habits of work and lack of persistence.

a dabbler who started novels but never finished them

When is it sensible to use dilettante instead of amateur?

The words dilettante and amateur can be used in similar contexts, but dilettante may apply to the lover of an art rather than its skilled practitioner but usually implies elegant trifling in the arts and an absence of serious commitment.

had no patience for dilettantes

When might tyro be a better fit than amateur?

The words tyro and amateur are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tyro implies inexperience often combined with audacity with resulting crudeness or blundering.

shows talent but is still a mere tyro

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of amateur
Noun
Dismissed early in the war as amateurs, the soldiers of the American Army withstood every hardship and challenge – and stood victorious. David Martin june 15, CBS News, 15 June 2025 Oh, and by the way, the Aztecs’ Justin Hastings was low amateur at the U.S. Open. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2025 In 2024, Clanton became the first amateur to finish top-10 in four PGA Tour events in one year since Jack Nicklaus in 1961, and was runner-up at the John Deere Classic and the RSM Classic. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025 Yet despite his age, the developers don’t want their Bond to feel juvenile or amateur. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for amateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amateur
Noun
  • Easy to assemble and great quality for the price, the AeroPilates Reformer Premier Studio 700 is a solid entry point for beginners.
    Amy Wilkinson, SELF, 1 July 2025
  • Small raised beds or large containers make excellent garden sites for beginners.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Again, avocational people being kind of ahead of the archaeological profession.
    Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024
  • The avocational musicians rehearse three hours each Monday evening through the academic year, with two additional rehearsals during concert weeks.
    Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
Noun
  • With six attachments and a base designed around the coanda effect (an aerodynamic phenomenon where high-velocity air causes moving objects, in this case, hair, to attach to a nearby curved surface), styling novices like me could achieve a bouncy, long-lasting, fresh-from-the-salon blowout at home.
    Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 1 July 2025
  • The property is hoping to attract a range of photographers, both novice and seasoned, to the property due to its hide.
    Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Space tourism as a niche market Space tourism has its origins in 1986 with the launch of the Mir space station, which later became the first orbital platform to host nonprofessional astronauts.
    Betsy Pudliner, The Conversation, 19 May 2025
  • That both Rios and Andrade are nonprofessional actors shows Soto’s command of the substance of his film.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Lasagna might not meet the dietary requirements of the patient, or perhaps their kids don't like it.
    Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 30 June 2025
  • Often, wealthy parents pay Riley, a director and senior admissions consultant at Ivy Academic Prep, to help guide their kids when applying for college.
    Kayla Jimenez, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • The technology quickly gained the support of tech giants, major brands and open-source enthusiasts.
    Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Jo Beckett-King, The House of Found Objects (A Bea Bellerose Mystery #1) Simon & Schuster, July 29 recommended for ages 8-12 Young codebreakers and puzzle enthusiasts will enjoy solving riddles and clues alongside the characters in this new middle grade mystery.
    Caroline Carlson June 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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