1
as in amateur
being such only for recreation
a toolshed that can be built by any jackleg carpenter who's capable of hitting a nail without smashing his thumb
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in inexperienced
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
he did such a jackleg installation of that door frame that now the door won't shut
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
a jackleg lawyer whose clients consist mainly of drug dealers and child molesters
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as in kid
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science
you can't rely on a bunch of jacklegs to run your dairy farm
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jackleg
Adjective
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In 1979, amateur archaeologists in Essex recovered multiple aircraft components, some of which were connected to Lowry’s plane and its crash site.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025 -
Throughout the film, del Toro flits and hovers between contradictory ideas, with the restlessness of the beautiful butterflies that Elizabeth, an amateur entomologist, likes to study.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Senior defensive tackle Braxton Fely’s radar is already up at the chance of facing another inexperienced QB.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Oct. 2025
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In doing so, Sonny mentors a talented but inexperienced rookie named Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) and brings an unconventional style of racing to the track.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Lester fled, but Beau followed him, demanding the missing finger because without it, his corrupt past could come to light.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
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Congress was moved to act at the urging of the major pro leagues’ commissioners, who testified in 1991 that sports betting undermined the integrity of games and invited corrupt influences.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The kids' club received an overhaul in 2018.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
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Proving that moms will do anything for their kids, Kim Kardashian joined North to dress up as her favorite TikTok stars, Jay Guapõ and Pink Cardigan.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Previous studies relied on a process known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which amplifies small or degraded fragments of DNA, allowing scientists to analyze genetic material even from old or damaged organic matter.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
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For Capone, this high precedence of pinworm was incredibly surprising, given that the samples were over 1,000 years old and the DNA would have been highly degraded over such a long period of time.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Mountaineering expedition companies describe Mount Yalung Ri, located in eastern Nepal’s Rolwaling Valley, as a peak suitable for beginners with no previous experience or for those acclimatizing for higher summits of the Himalayas, which can tower above 8,000 meters.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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It’s considered suitable for beginners with no previous experience climbing high mountains.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the risk of cargo backups at these Texas ports due to unpaid employees calling in sick.—
The NPR Network,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
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Officials advise against consuming meat from deer that appear sick or test positive for the disease.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Jackleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackleg. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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