hacker

1 a person who illegally gains access to a computer system and sometimes tampers with its information the company's security experts spent days trying to figure out how a hacker could have gotten past the firewall Synonyms cracker, cyberpunk Related Words computerist; gearhead, geek, propeller-head, techie, technocrat, technophile; phisher Near Antonyms computerphobe, technophobe

2 a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science weekend golf hackers who are there mainly for the social networking Synonyms hack, amateur, inexpert, jackleg, triflerRelated Words beginner, freshman, greenhorn, kid, learner, neophyte, newcomer, novice, rookie, tenderfoot, tyroNear Antonyms maestro, virtuoso, whiz, wizard; old hand, old-timer, vet, veteranAntonyms ace, adept, crackerjack (also crackajack), craftsman, expert, hand, master, past master, shark, sharp