as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard that's just a bush-league ploy to get cast on a TV reality show

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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 bush-league A lot of times, these bush-league but prolific lawbreakers basically got a warning, then another warning, then maybe a couple of months in county. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2024 A lot of times, these bush-league but prolific lawbreakers basically got a warning, then another warning, then maybe a couple of months in county. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2024 The script constitutes a string of bush-league errors we’re not supposed to care about, starting with the audience getting way, way out ahead of the characters regarding who’s hiding what. Michael Phillips, Twin Cities, 7 June 2024 What happened in the California state Assembly truly was a bush-league error. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bush-league
Adjective
  • In an interview, Pryor said the deputy's actions were unacceptable given the subject's age, regardless of how the series of events truly unfolded.
    Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The critiques have only intensified with each year that passes since the team’s last Super Bowl victory in 1996, with Jones calling the drought unacceptable at the NFL owners meeting earlier this year.
    Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
    Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
  • In other words, National Geographic was both right — and wrong.
    Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
  • For those really feeling that boozy Brewers magic, picking the wrong sister — and overlooking the shuttles' different colors, bar name and pick-up location — would mean a 30-minute walk to the correct bar after getting dropped off.
    Kylie Volavongsa, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Additionally, over-saturating with water is a poor choice for these floors.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2025
  • This implies a poor Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 52.5% (vs. 19.4% for S&P 500).
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Not bad for a company built on the back of a $40 plastic-cased watch!
    Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Drinking rates fell across every demographic and young people were most likely to believe drinking is bad for your health.
    Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • What’s more pathetic than those who keep selling that myth?
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Kamala has lied for years about their pathetic job growth, which has never been real.
    Meg Kinnard, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Aid distribution in Gaza has not always been this deficient, or fatal.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 26 July 2025
  • The 11 dimensions of character can manifest in deficient and excess states as shown in Table 1.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • Spiers: Manchester City had a disastrous 2024-25 season and still only finished 13 points behind Liverpool.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025
  • As for other imports, Doval allowed three runs and took the loss in his debut to start the disastrous weekend.
    Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bush-league.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bush-league. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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