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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Jamie Lee Curtis stars as mystery writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher, the role that Angela Lansbury originated on the long-running CBS show.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026 -
Today, the idea of turning any random passerby into an amateur botanist may not seem extraordinary.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Mullin will also face congressional Democrats’ wrath as lawmakers on Capitol Hill have already begun to investigate DHS for the massive contracts to individuals and companies that were inexperienced, had connections to Noem’s staff, or contained other irregularities.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Schaeffer won over most of the Rockies players quickly, but, fielding a young, inexperienced team, Colorado limped toward the finish line, going 4-21 in September.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Smuggling — sometimes by rope, sometimes with the help of corrupt jail guards — has long been a problem at the troubled federal jail, which has been plagued by violence, horrific conditions and severe staffing shortages for years.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
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No corrupt leader enriching himself and the Epstein class buddies.—
Diego Parrado,
Vanity Fair,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One morning, Amber Lowrey, the sister of a defendant named Savanna Batten, showed up early after dropping her kids off at school.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
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And kids were harmed and kids died.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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From there, your IT department can break down and analyze the data in any way that’s useful—tracking degradation along laptop generations, targeting particularly degraded units, identifying applications with heavy battery drain, and more.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
-
When a degraded grassland returns to health, the ground heaves up, as if inhaling with relief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Fresh basil Basil is generally easy to grow in the Sacramento area, and it is also known as a fairly easy herb plant for beginner planters and gardeners, according to the Almanac website.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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Park officials said Sunday marked the final day for tubing, the beginner ski hill, and the terrain park, weeks ahead of the typical early April shutdown.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The indictment says one customer paid $10,000 in vet bills after buying sick German Shepherds.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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The move comes as air travelers are experiencing longer security lines and a growing number of TSA agents are quitting or calling in sick.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
23 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Jackleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackleg. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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