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
Apress, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Throw in the stakes — the lure of golf immortality (or at the very least, a healthy paycheck for making the cut) for the pros and the walk of a lifetime for amateurs like dentist turned qualifier Matt Vogt — and yeah, things can drag on a bit.
—Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
No amateur has captured the U.S. Open title since Johnny Goodman triumphed at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Illinois, in 1933.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Over a span of 48 hours, 200 professional, amateur and student artists will use chalk to paint thousands of square feet of raw pavement into re-creations of masterpieces, modern art and their own original pieces during the Denver Chalk Art Festival in Denver’s Golden Triangle District.
—Laura Daily, Denver Post, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for amateur
Noun
Hastings hangs around Justin Hastings shot a second straight 73 to become the lone amateur to make the cut.
—Apress, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Throw in the stakes — the lure of golf immortality (or at the very least, a healthy paycheck for making the cut) for the pros and the walk of a lifetime for amateurs like dentist turned qualifier Matt Vogt — and yeah, things can drag on a bit.
—Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
No amateur has captured the U.S. Open title since Johnny Goodman triumphed at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Illinois, in 1933.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Over a span of 48 hours, 200 professional, amateur and student artists will use chalk to paint thousands of square feet of raw pavement into re-creations of masterpieces, modern art and their own original pieces during the Denver Chalk Art Festival in Denver’s Golden Triangle District.
—Laura Daily, Denver Post, 4 June 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
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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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Space tourism as a niche market Space tourism has its origins in 1986 with the launch of the Mir space station, which later became the first orbital platform to host nonprofessional astronauts.—
Betsy Pudliner,
The Conversation,
19 May 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Amateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amateur. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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