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 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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of amateur
Candace Oehler, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 R is a job, in other words, for a professional Porsche restoration shop, or perhaps an enterprising amateur.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 14 May 2025
Both professionals and amateurs are allowed to play in the U.S. Open.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025
It’s gone through many changes since, but the core idea of bringing a dozen great amateur bakers together under a big white tent to show off their skills in pastries, breads, cakes, and other baked goods remains reassuringly constant.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Noun
The franchises are based geographically throughout the U.S. and Canada, and each has a mix of professionals, amateurs, plus-handicappers, tour winners, and golf/social media personalities.
—Candace Oehler, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 R is a job, in other words, for a professional Porsche restoration shop, or perhaps an enterprising amateur.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 14 May 2025
Both professionals and amateurs are allowed to play in the U.S. Open.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025
It’s gone through many changes since, but the core idea of bringing a dozen great amateur bakers together under a big white tent to show off their skills in pastries, breads, cakes, and other baked goods remains reassuringly constant.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 11 May 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
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That both Rios and Andrade are nonprofessional actors shows Soto’s command of the substance of his film.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
24 May 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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