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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jackleg
Adjective
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The anime film follows an amateur sleuth with a penchant for the paranormal, who travels to the deep south to solve a string of murders that have awakened a vengeful Boo Hag spirit seeking justice.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025 -
The whole thing is truly amateur.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
By the way, Valera wasn’t the only inexperienced Guardian to make a pivotal play.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Fleck said that type of at-the-line adjustment is atypical for such an inexperienced player; Lindsey was making only his fourth collegiate start.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In one of many tonally jarring subplots, Vince works out a scam to burn down his dead mother’s house in Brooklyn to collect the insurance money with the help of a corrupt fire marshal.—
Andrew Bernard,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
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The writer became inspired to counteract his complicity in a corrupt system.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After a long day of activity, reward the kids with a treat from The Cake Bake Shop or Graeter’s Ice Cream.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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Many autistic kids are drawn to water, regardless of its temperature, because water offers a calming sensory effect.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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At the same time, suicide-attack FPVs incorporate AI navigation for autonomous terminal guidance under degraded control.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Under her leadership, the NYBG’s research team has expanded to 81 projects across 79 countries to conserve disappearing plant species, restore degraded ecosystems, and breed crops to withstand drought, sea level rise and extreme heat under climate change.—
Eduardo Garcia,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Showcase the messy beginner stage, on social media, to your close circles of friends — not just the end product.—
Sinéad O'Sullivan,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
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This form of exercise is suitable for all fitness levels, especially beginners.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But as that incident demonstrated, even a small number of controllers calling in sick can have a big impact.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
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Austin Hedges gets sick to his stomach before postseason games.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Jackleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jackleg. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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