poetaster

noun

ˈpō-ə-ˌta-stər How to pronounce poetaster (audio)
Definition of poetasternext
as in poet
a person who writes poetry she's a poetaster whose verse never rises above what is found on greeting cards

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 poetaster Heti’s detractors could probably put a bottle in the middle of a table and entertain themselves reading lines out of context in suave, poetaster voices. — New York Times, 7 Feb. 2022 But -aster words have never been particularly common, with the exception of poetaster, an inferior poet. — Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poetaster
  1. poet
  2. minstrel
Noun
  • Some of Italy’s other big airports are named for historically famous Italians, such as Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport, Venice’s Marco Polo airport and Verona’s airport, named for the Latin poet Valerio Catullo.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Rumi is also the name of a very famous 13th-century Persian poet and mystic.
    — Sarah Scott, Parents, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of poet
Noun
  • Last month, retailer Target pulled a children’s Halloween costume from its shelves after widespread social media backlash, apologizing for selling a garment that critics said evoked racist minstrel caricatures.
    — Dave Collins, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • In August, discount retailer Target stopped selling a children's Halloween costume that some critics said evoked racist minstrel caricatures, The Associated Press reported.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of minstrel

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“Poetaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poetaster. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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