dilettantes

variants or dilettanti
Definition of dilettantesnext
plural of dilettante
1
as in amateurs
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

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2
as in scholars
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

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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 dilettantes Packer and Srulovich aren’t dilettantes, either. Lela London, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilettantes
Noun
  • Given these circumstances, most of the music written for mandolin (eighty-five volumes were published in Paris between 1761 and 1783) was intended for amateurs, often women.
    Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Pressley became a performance chef after shedding 200lbs himself and entering a cooking competition show for amateurs, judged by one of his idols, Gordon Ramsay.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As one of the nation’s most consequential legal thinkers and scholars, Heather Gerken has long directed her fierce intellect toward defending free and fair elections, a strong civic architecture, and the rule of law.
    Elizabeth Alexander, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Legal scholars hinge that false opinion on their false understanding of grammar.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The Mac mini has become a status symbol among AI tinkerers, and some analysts say the device’s growing popularity may preface a broader shift in how people use computers.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Rather than targeting end users, the company aims to empower developers, researchers, and tinkerers to create breakthrough humanoid applications without building full robots from scratch.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The reason for all the commotion lies with those vines, which connoisseurs say add an unparalleled depth and complexity to the wine.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Available in two different colorways, conservative design connoisseurs will likely find comfort in the classic blue and natural beige color combo, while the punchy purple and green option might entice those with more adventurous color appetites.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 17 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dilettantes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilettantes. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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