NEOPHYTE Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

neophyte

noun

ˈnē-ə-ˌfīt

Definition of neophyte

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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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

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.

Recent Examples of neophyte Spurs rookie Dylan Harper looked anything but a neophyte with 12 points and six rebounds, too. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026 The former First Lady has some things in common right now with a Maine oyster farmer and political neophyte who’s running for Senate. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 June 2026 Compared with New York, San Antonio is led by neophytes. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 3 June 2026 Luckily for neophytes, the menu offers easy-to-understand tasting notes. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for neophyte

Recent Examples of Synonyms for neophyte

Noun

Tyler Kinley, Víctor Mederos, Danny Young, Dylan Lee and newcomer Brent Suter, respectively, combined to pitch the final six innings as the Braves ran their winning streak to eight straight and nine in a row at home.

— Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
As share prices have soared, newcomers like Ke are pouring in.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of newcomer

Noun

The best rock tumbler for beginners is one that comes as a complete kit, including the rocks, so the novice has the best chance of being successful on the first try.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
While El-Sayed was ahead in many polls over Stevens, including a recent survey conducted by Emerson College, the Democratic novice is trailing in some polling against Rogers, which the GOP nominee sees as advantageous.

— Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of novice

Noun

Across the street, dozens Los Angeles County firefighter recruits jogged at the Del Valle Regional Training Center, pushing through the inescapable aroma of trash in the air.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
McGee has played the most with 20 appearances the past two seasons, while Strickland was a former four-star recruit who played in four games last year.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of recruit

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

Noun

Jagetz described tattooing as a profession that remains heavily male dominated, where apprentices are frequently expected to tolerate inappropriate behavior because obtaining a license often depends on the person training them.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Pennsylvania touts nearly 150 pre-apprenticeship programs serving 3,200 pre-apprentices.

— Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of apprentice

Noun

New York Mets rookie Jefry Yan jumped high in the air with his feet spread apart, landed on the front of the mound and then slapped the grass with his left hand while briefly going to a knee.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
The rookie right-hander allowed three hits and one run with four strikeouts and a walk.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of rookie

Noun

Parson’s son Tucker passed for 2,698 yards and 34 touchdowns as a Rockmart freshman last season.

— Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
This innovative approach aims to ease the transition to college life, allowing freshmen to explore diverse subjects without the pressure of grades impacting their GPA or external transcripts.

— Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of freshman

Browse Nearby Words

neophiliacs

neophyte

neophytes

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

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Synonyms of neophyte

noun

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