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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
Carlsen also happens to be a co-founder of Freestyle Chess, which is looking to engage both chess aficionados, as well as amateurs new to the game. Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025 For the first time since 2022, no amateur made the cut at the Masters. Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2025 Australian amateur Michael Mattiazzo discovered the comet in late March using SWAN imagery, which maps hydrogen in the solar wind according to Spaceweather.com. Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Babolat is a trusted brand that utilizes the latest in technology to make rackets suited for pros and amateurs alike. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for amateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amateur
Noun
  • The basic 6- to 8-inch chef knife works best for most people, especially for beginners.
    Molly Higgins, Wired News, 2 May 2025
  • This Dungeons and Dragons Starter Bundle combines some essential materials for new players to get started, including premade character sheets, an introductory rule book, a super-easy first campaign, and dice, making an otherwise complicated game a lot easier to understand for tweens or beginners.
    Anja Webb, Parents, 30 Apr. 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
  • And given the ease of using the phishing toolkits, even technical novices can create a legitimate-looking login page and a proxy server.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2025
  • But where one is fluent in the language of entertainment, the other now seated at the table is a novice in an industry that’s fraught with shady practices and constant change.
    Shirley Halperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Battle of Algiers (1966) Shot on location and filled with nonprofessional actors, Gillo Pontecorvo’s The Battle of Algiers chronicles the clash between forces of the French government and rebels in the Algerian capital during the Algerian War.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Aside from the three main actors, the majority of the film features largely nonprofessional actors, cast from Alliata’s real friends and family from her childhood in Hawaii.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Not to a kid like that that has been working their whole life and been told that Deion’s kids are never going to be as good as him.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025
  • Campbell was the kid who trained with the same private track coach.
    Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Canal enthusiasts, historians, engineers, environmentalists, artists and lesiure travelers, according to the state officials, are expected to attend.
    Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • Since its debut in 1963, the Porsche 911 has universally enthralled motoring enthusiasts with its approachability, athleticism, and aesthetics—a combination that’s arguably without equal among sports cars.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

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