as in amateurishness
a lack of the level of skill associated with an expert or professional
the new defense secretary proceeded to criticize the amateurism of the nation's war effort up to that point
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Recent Examples of amateurism
Arguments can be made that NIL has put the final nail in the coffin to eliminate amateurism in college sports, but truthfully, amateurism in college sports died some time ago as the NCAA, institutions and media profited off the athletes.
—
Eddie Edwards Jr, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2026
Jersey sales was probably one of the most egregious hypocrisies of the NCAA’s amateurism rule for student athletes, which stipulated that players were never to benefit financially from their name, image and likeness — even if others did.
—Andrea Williams, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
On top of that, the devolution of NCAA amateurism presents a chance to reconsider elite player development.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
After years of defending/defining the concept of amateurism, a Supreme Court decision forced the NCAA to revoke its restrictions on athlete compensation.
—Nick Lomaglio, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Eddie Edwards Jr, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2026
Jersey sales was probably one of the most egregious hypocrisies of the NCAA’s amateurism rule for student athletes, which stipulated that players were never to benefit financially from their name, image and likeness — even if others did.
—Andrea Williams, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
On top of that, the devolution of NCAA amateurism presents a chance to reconsider elite player development.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
After years of defending/defining the concept of amateurism, a Supreme Court decision forced the NCAA to revoke its restrictions on athlete compensation.
—Nick Lomaglio, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amateurism
inability
Noun
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Russia and China, though chastened by their inability to protect Venezuela, retain a strong interest in propping up Havana, given Cuba’s location just 90 miles south of Key West.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
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Forster’s novel may have been written in 1913 (and published, posthumously, in 1971), but its portrayal of Alec and Maurice’s inability to openly articulate their love remains evergreen.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Amateurism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateurism. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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