jackleg 1 of 2

adjective

ˈjak-ˌleg How to pronounce jackleg (audio)
Definition of jacklegnext
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

jackleg

2 of 2

noun

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
  1. amateur
  2. inexperienced
  3. corrupt
  4. kid
  5. degraded
  6. beginner
  7. sick
Adjective
  • Adell has spent his entire career with the Angels after being the 10th overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft.
    — David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the lab has turned into a record label, with local musicians, many of them amateur, making records through collaborations with the lab.
    — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of amateur
Adjective
  • His successor is inexperienced Indiana transfer Alberto Mendoza.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Prongos is still understandably inexperienced in several areas and needs to get stronger.
    — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Adjective
  • His new documentary takes on the cryptocurrency industry, portraying the controversial digital currency as corrupt and in dire need of more regulations.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
  • At its core, the crime known as huachicol fiscal is a vast tax evasion scheme centered on falsified paperwork — and corrupt officials.
    — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of corrupt
Noun
  • The kids are now older and played by different actors (Emma Ho and Gabriel Barbosa).
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The idea is that keeping their community healthy will keep kids in school learning.
    — Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of kid
Adjective
  • Devastating fires across Canada have blown smoke deep into dense US population centers in recent weeks and degraded air quality.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Meet the chicken kidney sponge, a true ecosystem engineer that could use its filter-feeding power to clean the degraded habitats in and around busy harbors.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 July 2026
Definition of degraded
Noun
  • The activity's simplicity means beginners can start light and progress gradually, even using household items for weight.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The property is just a five-minute walk from the Côte des Basques beach (one of the best beginner-friendly surf beaches in the city), and close to the restaurants and bars of the Beaurivage neighborhood (known locally as ‘Bibi’).
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 31 July 2026
Definition of beginner
Adjective
  • Veterinarians for famed Big Bear bald eagle Jackie, who was found sick and on the ground weeks ago, still don’t know what’s wrong with her.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • What stays with me is not just what happened when my father got sick, but what didn’t happen before.
    — Guy Leitersdorf, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of sick
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.

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jackknives
jackleg
jacklegs
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Cite this Entry

“Jackleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackleg. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on jackleg

Nglish: Translation of jackleg for Spanish Speakers

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