dilettantism

Definition of dilettantismnext
as in amateurism
a lack of the level of skill associated with an expert or professional no charge of dilettantism could ever be leveled at English physicist Henry Cavendish, whose immense wealth allowed him to devote his life to scientific pursuits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilettantism
Noun
  • For a long time, amateurism was the name of the game at the Olympics.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Inside athletic departments across the country, executives are coping with financial impacts driven by the death of amateurism in high-level college sports.
    David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Their design was unpolished, even primitive, seemingly to convey a sense of slapdash amateurishness.
    Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But its lofty position is threatened by, among other things, America’s own chronic inability to keep a balanced budget, and the administration’s trade policy is part of what’s holding it back from doing so.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Rust, more than most of the Penguins, has taken the franchise’s recent inability to reach the postseason especially hard in recent years.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • As for the district admininistrative employees, one was allowed to resign at her leisure, without consequences, and others remain employed despite their incompetence.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Why did incompetence feel like the right way in?
    Kennedy French, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Dilettantism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilettantism. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

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