1
as in newcomer
a person who has recently been persuaded to join a religious sect
neophytes are assigned an experienced church member to guide them through their first year
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in novice
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
a neophyte in snowboarding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of neophyte
In his first conversation with Benge this week, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the outfielder, a neophyte in big-league spring training, that mistakes will happen.
—
Will Sammon, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Heartland churchgoers, urban sophisticates, football neophytes—everyone got swept up in his will to win.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
Stefanski will let Tommy Rees, an NFL neophyte, call the plays.
—Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The horse's body is formed by four bright stars — the famous Great Square — one of the easiest star patterns for astronomy neophytes to trace out.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neophyte
Will Sammon, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Heartland churchgoers, urban sophisticates, football neophytes—everyone got swept up in his will to win.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
Stefanski will let Tommy Rees, an NFL neophyte, call the plays.
—Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The horse's body is formed by four bright stars — the famous Great Square — one of the easiest star patterns for astronomy neophytes to trace out.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neophyte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neophyte
Noun
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The event has grown into a staple of Atlanta's cultural calendar — a space where longtime residents and newcomers alike can celebrate what makes the city unique.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Cupich said the church in Chicago has seen a considerable increase in newcomers, especially young people.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After years of working in his garden, the former novice has figured out what grows well in his yard’s different spots.—
Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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In China, OpenClaw has received a particularly fervent welcome among AI enthusiasts and novices alike.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Gluting is ranked as the second best left-hander in Illinois in the 2027 class by Prep Baseball Report behind Benet’s Quinn Rooney, who’s a Notre Dame recruit.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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While Staley's talks with recruits once centered on earning degrees, they're mostly focused now on money, especially with players in the transfer portal.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Apple GarageBand is a powerful, beginner-friendly free DAW for Mac that makes creating, recording, and learning music easy without sacrificing essential features.—
Jamie Lendino,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
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Contestants range from beginners to experienced builders, offering a cross-section of skill levels that reflect how cosplay develops over time.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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After spending years developing the Fermilab Holometer, an instrument designed to understand what space and time are made of, Kamai returned to her spiritual roots in Hawaii as an apprentice navigator and crew member of a voyaging canoe.—
Deepa Bharath,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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Seeing red Details are still scarce, but Lucas’ idea for his Sequel Trilogy would rediscover Maul as a Crime Boss, based in Coruscant, along with his apprentice, Darth Talon.—
Daryl Baxter,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This Diamondbacks rookie had a stellar debut.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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In fact, the rookie catcher has made an impressive splash through the first six games of her career, which includes the Storm’s annual five-game spring break trip to Tennessee.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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One of those freshman moving in is Jocelyn Monroe, who is making a difference from the circle.—
Charles Baggarly
April 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
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Georgetown, led by junior center Patrick Ewing and freshman forward Reggie Williams, beats Houston 84-75 to win the NCAA championship in Seattle.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Neophyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neophyte. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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