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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jackleg
Adjective
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Instead, waiting until just before the candidate filing deadline is more amateur than a Little League game.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026 -
Friends from the amateur mixed martial arts community, including those at the gym where Munoz-Pederson had spent six evenings a week for the last six years, knew him as a lovable and helpful teammate, as well as a vigorous fighter few wanted to face across the ring.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
The Shah's regime was corrupt and dysfunctional.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Trump has granted clemency to all manner of criminals from violent January 6 rioters to corrupt politicians and fraudulent businessmen.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some 78% of parents with kids between 0 and 3 months old underestimated their children’s sleep needs.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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Other kids may be more aware than their families realize and suppress their emotions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Trouvelot cuts into this degraded crater, indicating that the neighboring basin formed first.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Preserving tissue improves cloning success rates — a lesson Anderson learned the hard way after degraded samples contributed to her four-year wait.—
Ryan Brennan
March 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Exumas are known as one of The Bahamas’ better fishing areas, with champion fisherman and beginners alike coming from far and wide in hopes of landing everything from silvery bonefish and snapper to wahoo and mahi-mahi.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
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However, not all edible plants are very beginner-friendly.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As the harried solo parent of a sick child, Byrne lets the camera zoom in so close to her character’s insecurities that the audience breaks out in a cold sweat.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Threats to the environment and wildlife are still ever-present — a new highly pathogenic avian influenza has just hit the state, McGuire said, making birds and now elephant seals in Northern California sick.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
9 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Jackleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackleg. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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