freshmen

noun

plural of freshman
as in novices
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity our senator is just a freshman in Congress

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 freshmen In his short time as president, Peñalver has taken opportunities to interact with the student body, helping freshmen move into dorm rooms and riding the university shuttle. — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 As of 2024, tuition costs $32,000, while 25 percent of incoming freshmen are granted Hope Scholarships. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026 However, the rule doesn’t apply to college athletes from the high school class of 2022 who did not redshirt as freshmen. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Ole Miss Speaking of five-star freshmen sitting in favor of veterans. — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 Dunnigan’s 16 tackles entering Saturday leads Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen and is third overall among true freshmen in power conferences behind only Vanderbilt’s Mason Lewis (18) and USC’s Luke Wafle (17). — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026 Other college freshmen might be outside soaking up the nice weather on this sunny September day. — Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 The other underclassmen Hurley was referring to in the top nine would presumably be sophomore star Braylon Mullins and freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County, who are both expected to make immediate contributions. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026 Exactly 39 years after the debut of the iconic sitcom, a new sequel series hit Netflix on Thursday, blending a bunch of the beloved returning characters with a fresh class of freshmen. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for freshmen
  1. novices
  2. newcomers
  3. beginners
  4. rookies
  5. apprentices
  6. recruits
Noun
  • To capture some of that essence, Guitar Center is trying to make its stores a place to hang out for novices and pros alike.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The sizable number of offerings in every box can help bean novices get acquainted with new products and strengthen their bond with favorites.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of novices
Noun
  • My Presbyterian Romance gatherings pair lyrics with Bible passages, bringing together longtime fans, churchgoers and newcomers to explore faith.
    — Lina Abascal, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • While Christen and Jude remained among the hottest brands to check out at showroom appointments, other names pinpointed by buyers included Hagelstam, Nomasei, Neous and the newcomers Ananyan and Kiana Ghavidel.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of newcomers
Noun
  • The button placement is great for beginners and allows new users to start straight away before moving up to more advanced shooting.
    — Harry Bennett, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Designed for both beginners and die-hards, the 60-minute classes at the beautiful new reformer Pilates studio focus on core strength, alignment, flexibility, and balance.
    — Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of beginners
Noun
  • Brewers manager Pat Murphy basically buried his rookies for making mistakes in the previous half-inning.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • So, the Hawks rolled with mostly their rookies, young pieces, two-way and training-camp players.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of rookies
Noun
  • For carpenters, delays and poor weather conditions can disrupt the working hours apprentices need to complete their program, causing some to quit.
    — Itzel Franco, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The new funding will allow the school to add 16 apprentices, for a total of 51 trainees.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of apprentices
Noun
  • Most crime syndicates were more welcoming to Korean recruits, for example, than mainstream corporations were.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Pore’s vision was sold to many players — not just the nine locals — a list that includes many international recruits.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of recruits

Browse Nearby Words

freshman
freshmen
freshness
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Cite this Entry

“Freshmen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freshmen. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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