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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Co-created and hosted by Tyra Banks, the reality competition in which amateur beauties vied for the titular title and a modeling contract, among other prizes, ran for 24 seasons on three different networks (UPN, The CW, VH1) between 2003 and 2018.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026 -
The show has been done by dozens of theaters around the state, from professional productions at such places as Seven Angels Theatre and UConn’s Connecticut Repertory Theatre to amateur productions put together by community theaters or groups of local musicians.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
All of Quigley’s challengers are politically inexperienced but impassioned Democrats running to the incumbent’s left.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The most common complaints include denying legitimate claims, partnering with inexperienced and unqualified service providers, poor service, and slow response times.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The corrupt a-s psychopath prosecutors’ office.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The film stars Jake Busey (Stranger Things) as Dirk, a corrupt cop who partners with an eager, broke assistant named Jeff Klima, played by Felix Merback (Blood Star).—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The kids couldn’t receive direct messages from non-followers and algorithms would be adjusted so they couldn’t be targeted by specific advertisements.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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School nutrition staff and vendors use the event to test new recipes and get feedback from the very kids who will be eating them.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The patriarch’s rage at feeling degraded in America turns the home into a war zone.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
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The company acknowledges that direct recycling will not replace chemical methods entirely, particularly for mixed or degraded end-of-life batteries.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Suites with interconnecting doors across the balcony are a great choice for larger families, and most regular activities include child-friendly options, like the beginner’s surfing classes in calmer waves or toddler bikes for cycling along the nature reserve.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
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Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts the most vertical in North America (5,620 feet) and has a rugged feel with chutes and bowls up top and beginner-friendly terrain near the base.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Olsky's mother, under 70 pounds and nine months pregnant, was put in the sick car on the train, surrounded by sick and dying women.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Edgar finds them together, gets angry and Cathy gets even sicker.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
16 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Jackleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackleg. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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