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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of amateur
Michael Russo, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
After being dismissed and briefly rehired as a consultant, Minaya took a job with MLB to serve as a consultatnt for amateur scouting initiatives.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Christian Orozco, NBC news, 23 Sep. 2025
But on a recent warm September morning, the rhythmic beat of jackhammers crushing concrete with steel and the hissing flow of rush hour traffic greeted a group of amateur ornithologists.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Adjective
After Haight was recalled Tuesday because of Sturm’s injury, the opening-night roster boasts 10 players age 24-and-under and seven homegrown draft picks made by director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
After being dismissed and briefly rehired as a consultant, Minaya took a job with MLB to serve as a consultatnt for amateur scouting initiatives.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
The International Padel Federation says the sport is played in more than 140 countries around the world, with about 30 million amateur players.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 23 Sep. 2025
But on a recent warm September morning, the rhythmic beat of jackhammers crushing concrete with steel and the hissing flow of rush hour traffic greeted a group of amateur ornithologists.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amateur
Adjective
-
Injuries have swept through the league, and inexperienced or ill-fitting players have been forced into service as special-teams blockers.—
J.J. Bailey,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Scaloni, whose team finished in first place in South American World Cup qualifying, was using Friday’s match, and the Tuesday match against Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium, to integrate some of the younger and inexperienced players on the roster.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This Space Cowboys vibe makes sense because this tech boom looks less like the last one — social apps powered by subway ads and nap pods — than the 1980s PC revolution, powered by tinkerers with motherboards and soldering irons.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The deal gives Qualcomm direct access to the tinkerers, hobbyists and companies at the lowest levels of the robotics industry.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Then The Woobles entered the chat and completely transformed the beginner-friendly crochet project space—and quickly became the must-have gift for the holiday season.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Lang is, in the richest sense, a promising beginner.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 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
-
The Pitch & Putt is a short nine-hole course that’s well-suited for novice players.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 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,
9 Oct. 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
-
The lower level of the five-bedroom, nine-bath residence is dedicated to hobbyists, whether that means putting on your favorite film in the plush home theater or pouring a glass of wine from one of the labels in the 800-bottle cellar.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The deal gives Qualcomm direct access to the tinkerers, hobbyists and companies at the lowest levels of the robotics industry.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But man, our kids went toe to toe with them.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The event includes pumpkin decorating and other activities for kids, music, a plant sale and garden shop along with barbecue lunch sold by Amigos de Vista Lions.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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