as in amateur
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
many dilettante efforts could be seen at the sidewalk art show
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
a dilettante at heart, she was never willing to commit the time and effort that ballet demands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scholar
dated
a person having a knowledgeable and fine appreciation of the arts
she writes about art not from the point of view of an artist but from that of a committed dilettante
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dilettante
Orlando Whitfield, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Him and all the other dilettantes who don’t know the wonders of VistaVision.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
He will be called a fascist and a coward and a dilettante.
—The Editors, National Review, 31 Oct. 2024
Back in the 1930s, Cocteau was dubbed a dilettante.
—Harriet Quick, theweek, 17 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for dilettante
Noun
Marinetti emerges as a kind of anarchic scout leader and André Breton, Surrealism’s founder, comes across as a work-shy dilettante.
—Orlando Whitfield, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Him and all the other dilettantes who don’t know the wonders of VistaVision.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
He will be called a fascist and a coward and a dilettante.
—The Editors, National Review, 31 Oct. 2024
Back in the 1930s, Cocteau was dubbed a dilettante.
—Harriet Quick, theweek, 17 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for dilettante
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilettante
Adjective
-
Elsewhere, Chalamet and Okonma’s characters try their hand at sports gambling, cleaning up cash in an amateur tournament thanks to Marty’s talents.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The competition among amateur teenagers was ruthless.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Ringbrothers Kingpin was unveiled at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show (SEMA) in Las Vegas, which is a haven for aftermarket wizards, tuners, and auto tinkerers of all stripes.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
-
How would the tinkerer-in-chief Guardiola galaxy-brain his way around this clash of styles?—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Media studies scholar Stephen Ponder argues that William McKinley, inaugurated as president in 1897, laid the groundwork for Roosevelt’s later efforts to fully bring the press into the White House.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
-
And labor scholar Hamilton Nolan reminds us to breathe, and take the (rare) win.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Jokic didn’t overtake Jamal Murray as Denver’s leading scorer until their seventh game of the season, after a 33-point performance Wednesday against a Miami Heat frontcourt that was woefully undersized and inexperienced the instant Bam Adebayo exited with a foot injury.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Henderson has struggled in that role as a rookie, and Jennings is inexperienced at the pro level.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Chai masala connoisseurs assemble!—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Calling all chocolate connoisseurs!—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Eight times MetLife has played host to a sea of fans—No Shoes Nation devotees—who came to soak in Chesney’s unique blend of country, rock and island music, paired with his positive, easy energy.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Godchaux was a divisive figure among Grateful Dead devotees — many fans were frankly outright disdainful of her presence on stage.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dilettante.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilettante. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share