as in novice
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
go easy on him—he's just a greenhorn and doesn't have all the experience you do
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Recent Examples of greenhorn
Behind her, a greenhorn named Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) takes photos of Lee taking photos of the dead, and behind Jessie, of course, are Garland and his cinematographer Rob Hardy filming images of both women.
—
Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
And if Major Kidd could give the kids a pep talk half as good as Rosie, these greenhorns might sleep a little easier.
—Chris Klimek, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2024
That's a pretty apt casting given that the three other members are greenhorns in terms of major titles.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
On the fishing boat, a greenhorn named Steve can’t stop going on about ripping off his own father of 40 grand, the cash still in his car, where he’s been living.
—Tod Goldberg, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for greenhorn
Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
And if Major Kidd could give the kids a pep talk half as good as Rosie, these greenhorns might sleep a little easier.
—Chris Klimek, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2024
That's a pretty apt casting given that the three other members are greenhorns in terms of major titles.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
On the fishing boat, a greenhorn named Steve can’t stop going on about ripping off his own father of 40 grand, the cash still in his car, where he’s been living.
—Tod Goldberg, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for greenhorn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for greenhorn
Noun
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While the glory days have come and gone — and come and gone again — for Florida, most still see him as the king for a Gators program that was once just a novice to the national stage.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
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For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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NurPhoto via Getty Images Arizona’s Horseshoe Bend Trail is the second-best hiking trail for beginners, the InsureMyTrip study says.—
Gary Stoller,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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At Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, the 19 miles of challenging trails (ranging from the beginner-friendly Family Flow to experts-only Drop the Hammer, which includes a 12-foot plunge) aren’t the only attractions.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Managers worry that apprentices may miss the chance to learn institutional best practices with each project outsourced.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
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Ritter says the company starts to see a return on investment in its apprentices by Year 3.—
Andy Tonsing,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Take this season’s inaugural Coach campaign, in which the brand starred five rookies -– Paige Bueckers, Hailey Van Lith, Aneesah Morrow, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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While making a rookie wage of $390,000 with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson beat out veteran Matt Flynn, who had just signed for a free-agent guarantee of $10 million.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Other pros, including Gleb Savchenko, Ezra Sosa, and newcomer Jan Ravnik, appear to be single this season—but as past seasons have shown, the ballroom has a way of sparking unexpected connections.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Classic black and stainless steel are taking a backseat to bold, bright hues as kitchenware brands—including stalwarts such as Le Creuset and KitchenAid, as well as newcomers like Great Jones and Caraway—embrace color in the kitchen.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The 1994 freshman class had 87 members — 73 Republicans against 14 Democrats.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The two met in freshman year in the dorms and quickly became inseparable.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Greenhorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/greenhorn. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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