as in tinkerer
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession he was a dabbler, learning the basics of many arts but mastering none

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun dabbler differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dabbler are amateur, dilettante, and tyro. While all these words mean "a person who follows a pursuit without attaining proficiency or professional status," dabbler suggests desultory habits of work and lack of persistence.

a dabbler who started novels but never finished them

In what contexts can amateur take the place of dabbler?

The words amateur and dabbler can be used in similar contexts, but amateur often applies to one practicing an art without mastery of its essentials; in sports it may also suggest not so much lack of skill but avoidance of direct remuneration.

a painting obviously done by an amateur
remained an amateur despite lucrative offers

When might dilettante be a better fit than dabbler?

The words dilettante and dabbler are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dilettante may apply to the lover of an art rather than its skilled practitioner but usually implies elegant trifling in the arts and an absence of serious commitment.

had no patience for dilettantes

When would tyro be a good substitute for dabbler?

The synonyms tyro and dabbler are sometimes interchangeable, but tyro implies inexperience often combined with audacity with resulting crudeness or blundering.

shows talent but is still a mere tyro

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 dabbler Others are simply dabblers, like Justin Liam O’Brien. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 July 2024 In David Epstein’s ‘Range’, dabblers and dillettantes are ascendant. Big Think, 24 June 2024 Intel, the main dabbler in such CPUs in recent years, pushes the performance envelope with these chips, but without introducing significant changes to the silicon. PCMAG, 10 Apr. 2024 Due to their tall and lanky nature and feet that extend well beyond the body, whistling ducks don’t look very much like their fellow dabblers. M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 10 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for dabbler
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbler
Noun
  • His uncle Leo, a naval engineer, noticed that his nephew was a budding tinkerer and gave him a Kodak photo-chemistry set for his sixth birthday.
    Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025
  • At $3,499, it is clearly not priced for small-scale tinkerers.
    Dave Altavilla, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Nolthenius hopes that more astronomers – professionals and amateurs – will turn their eyes to the skies to observe Quaoar's occultations.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • On the surface, almost every ability in the game is designed for amateurs to pick up with little experience.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Even hobbyists are investing in online classes for music, photography, or language learning.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • This printer is designed for enthusiasts who want to experiment with multicolor projects, hobbyists who want a reliable machine that keeps up with complex designs, or professionals looking for affordable prototyping tools.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 2 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dabbler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dabbler. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dabbler

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!