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
Relevance
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
Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Today, Kodachrome Basin State Park, located near the town of Cannonville, continues to draw both amateur and professional photographers alike.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
In my book, with a worthless doubleton in one suit, only an amateur would open one no-trump (even with 17 high-card points) unless his partner understood that such a bid might be to show HCPs only.
—Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Adjective
And there was a smattering of other items, which the visitor, fancying himself an amateur academic archeologist, thought worth noting.
—Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Today, Kodachrome Basin State Park, located near the town of Cannonville, continues to draw both amateur and professional photographers alike.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Touchdown / Call the amateurs and cut ’em from the team.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
In my book, with a worthless doubleton in one suit, only an amateur would open one no-trump (even with 17 high-card points) unless his partner understood that such a bid might be to show HCPs only.
—Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amateur
Adjective
-
Clearly frustrated, Palencia gave up five runs and recorded zero outs during the ninth inning of that 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals, a last-place team with a largely inexperienced and nondescript lineup.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Having won five straight Ryder Cups and 12 of the last 13, the American team entered as the heavy favorite despite fielding a relatively inexperienced squad.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
His uncle Leo, a naval engineer, noticed that his nephew was a budding tinkerer and gave him a Kodak photo-chemistry set for his sixth birthday.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
9 Sep. 2025
-
At $3,499, it is clearly not priced for small-scale tinkerers.—
Dave Altavilla,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
NurPhoto via Getty Images Arizona’s Horseshoe Bend Trail is the second-best hiking trail for beginners, the InsureMyTrip study says.—
Gary Stoller,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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At Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, the 19 miles of challenging trails (ranging from the beginner-friendly Family Flow to experts-only Drop the Hammer, which includes a 12-foot plunge) aren’t the only attractions.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Again, avocational people being kind of ahead of the archaeological profession.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Feb. 2024
-
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
-
While the glory days have come and gone — and come and gone again — for Florida, most still see him as the king for a Gators program that was once just a novice to the national stage.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
-
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,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This year, Friedman is celebrating 30 years as the music director of the Symphony of Oak Park River Forest, a nonprofessional orchestra in the western suburbs.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Those seeking advanced degrees in nonprofessional areas, such as history or philosophy, will be subject to an annual borrowing cap of $20,500 and a lifetime limit of $100,000.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Even hobbyists are investing in online classes for music, photography, or language learning.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
This printer is designed for enthusiasts who want to experiment with multicolor projects, hobbyists who want a reliable machine that keeps up with complex designs, or professionals looking for affordable prototyping tools.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Sign up now and be one of the cool kids.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
One of my kids once presented a bar graph showing that Taco Tuesday produces 40% more dirty dishes than any other night.—
Dr. Sue Varma,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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