1
as in immature
lacking in adult experience or maturity
inexperienced teenagers who, naturally, thought they knew everything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in amateur
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
an inexperienced carpenter had obviously built the rough-hewn cabin
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 inexperienced
Pidgeon came in with a brunette bob, which, given the length of her natural hair, could be detected if left to inexperienced stylists.
—
Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 6 Mar. 2026
The roster is young and inexperienced — Sands is the only returning starter from last season — and the Tommies dealt with the predictable growing pains.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Gochis also spent more time training rather than accepting forfeit wins against inexperienced and overmatched wrestlers.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Their defence is now inexperienced and unfamiliar.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The officer said the review was needed because an inexperienced employee handled James’ initial vetting.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
In the book, Krakauer is critical of the guiding companies for leading inexperienced climbers up the mountain despite the extreme dangers.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Initially, Dunk doesn’t treat the boy as a prince but as a young inexperienced squire.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Without its star midfielder, Riqui Puig, who was out all season with an ACL injury and many starters resting for another competition, Los Angeles used almost exclusively young and inexperienced players, and still overwhelmed Colorado.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 6 Mar. 2026
The roster is young and inexperienced — Sands is the only returning starter from last season — and the Tommies dealt with the predictable growing pains.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Gochis also spent more time training rather than accepting forfeit wins against inexperienced and overmatched wrestlers.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Their defence is now inexperienced and unfamiliar.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The officer said the review was needed because an inexperienced employee handled James’ initial vetting.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
In the book, Krakauer is critical of the guiding companies for leading inexperienced climbers up the mountain despite the extreme dangers.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Initially, Dunk doesn’t treat the boy as a prince but as a young inexperienced squire.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Without its star midfielder, Riqui Puig, who was out all season with an ACL injury and many starters resting for another competition, Los Angeles used almost exclusively young and inexperienced players, and still overwhelmed Colorado.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inexperienced
Adjective
-
Preterm and low-birth-weight babies are at higher risk than full-term babies of developing NEC, potentially because of their immature digestive systems, according to the National Institutes of Health.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
When the eggs hatch, the immature stages start feeding.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Before Castro began preventing citizens from leaving the country, Cuba’s then-thriving professional leagues had already turned amateur, forcing top players such as Perez and Cárdenas to decide between pursuing their MLB careers or living a rewardless life as stars in Cuba.—
Tyler Carmona,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
However, thanks to the amateur astronomers who made journeys across the globe between October 2022 and March 2025 to witness 22 stellar occultations by the Didymos–Dimorphos system, Makadia and Chesley's team were able to calculate the change in the binary system's orbit around the sun.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For those who perhaps find Euphoria a touch too harrowing (or exaggerated) to watch, Skins provides a perfect middle-ground with more authentic adolescent experiences that still flirt with darkness.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Early, who wrote and directed, also stars as the title character, Maddie Ralph, a food influencer who is secretly struggling with the return of an adolescent eating disorder.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
McKinney was Double-A Binghamton’s pitching coach last season and thus owns deeper histories with many of the Mets’ younger arms.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The 49-second video begins with a young girl in blue pants picking up a metal water bottle from the ground and throwing it at another girl.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inexperienced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inexperienced. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
