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 While Chad is giving bush-league Sandler, the supporting characters are ripped from the playbook of Ted Lasso—another sports comedy based on a viral bit, not to mention a massively popular show whose title surely figured in the development of Chad Powers. Judy Berman, Time, 26 Sep. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bush-league
Adjective
  • The New York State GOP Executive Committee then voted unanimously to revoke the Young Republicans’ charter on October 17, 2025, citing mismanagement and condemning the language as unacceptable in the party or its affiliates.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Others are preaching patience, but acknowledge that the status quo is unacceptable.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • My only complaint is that the light blue stripes on the arm look printed, not stitched, which is kinda lame.
    The Athletic NHL Staff, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Another main issue is that the power grind itself now being the endgame is no longer a good motivator to play, nor is the Tier system with 3s not much different than 4s or 5s, and all past weapons being somewhat lame now outside of that system entirely.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Human nature, however, urges us to do the exact wrong thing.
    Steve Booren, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
  • There's a quote from The Office that's always stuck with me for all the wrong reasons.
    Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Porter has been a lead creator before, but that was on cellar-dwelling Houston Rockets squads that became a breeding ground for poor habits.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Young people want better governance and are fed up with suffering from poor services and economies while their leaders get rich around them and inequality grows.
    Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So sorry, fantasy coaches and anybody that bet on me, my bad.
    Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Joseph had maybe his worst day of the year.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And Craig Waterman, the marketing executive from the 2024 film Friendship, took Robinson into new territory with a darker and more pathetic take on the same neurotic type.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2025
  • In his brightest moments, Mike is boyishly gentle, a little wacky, and modestly proud — all in ways that Dillane manages to make feel both pathetic and delightful.
    Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In the meantime, Jones has been carrying a run-deficient offense to the tune of 313 yards per game — the most in the NFL.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • At least 1,235 miles of the city’s sidewalks, or about 40%, are considered deficient.
    Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Having Bregman was and is still important, but losing Devers for a disastrous package of four players (with one prospect, James Tibbs III, already traded in a separate deadline deal) cannot be followed up by then letting Bregman walk in the winter.
    Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Gase was fired after a disastrous 2020 season.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 17 Oct. 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 21 Oct. 2025.

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