1
as in inexperienced
being such only for recreation
an amateur cabinetmaker, he derives immense satisfaction from finely crafting his own furniture
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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
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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
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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
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as in amateurism
a lack of the level of skill associated with an expert or professional
I was surprised at the amateurishness of the dance presentation, considering it was put on by supposed professionals
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of amateur
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
Sure, there were some pretentious amateurs on the other side of the camera, but the most successful physique photographers were pros with recognizable styles.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
What’s what’s really exciting about an amateur tournament compared to a professional one?
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
McDermott went on to a career in finance and today has three sons of his own, but for years was a dominating presence in the Philadelphia-area amateur ranks as well as on a national level.
—Erik Matuszewski, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Noun
Just one tweak that would help any amateur arrangist out: Think different lengths.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
Sure, there were some pretentious amateurs on the other side of the camera, but the most successful physique photographers were pros with recognizable styles.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
What’s what’s really exciting about an amateur tournament compared to a professional one?
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
McDermott went on to a career in finance and today has three sons of his own, but for years was a dominating presence in the Philadelphia-area amateur ranks as well as on a national level.
—Erik Matuszewski, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amateur
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
Adjective
-
An author inevitably faces the threat of proportional imbalance: a glut of one (the tantalizing range of delicacies eaten) and want of the other (the nonprofessional life lived).—
Charlotte Druckman,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
-
Diop cast nonprofessional actors from across Dakar.—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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