as in novices
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
although a star in his old sport of basketball, he was still just a rookie as far as baseball was concerned
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Recent Examples of rookies
Can high-profile rookies Nolan McLean and Carson Benge establish themselves as the headliners of the team’s next core?
—
D.j. Short, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
Sieler had 10 tackles for loss, but the rookies combined for only four TFLs — two by Grant and one apiece by Phillips and Biggers.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Since the three two-way players joined the team and entered the rotation against Memphis on March 9, seven of Brooklyn’s nine top minute-getters have been rookies or players who spent time with Long Island this season, including Wolf, Saraf, Johnson, Drake Powell, Nolan Traoré and Josh Minott.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
Last season, just 20 rookies made rosters out of training camp.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The industry’s ability to take a slow bet on a writer, to develop them the way record labels develop musicians or sports teams develop rookies, becomes increasingly rare.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
With Markquese Bell and last year’s rookies Zion Childress and Alijah Clark on the roster, do the Cowboys need to add another safety?
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
Casey O’Brien, who leads all rookies this season with 14 points and three power-play goals, did not play (upper-body injury) for the Sirens.
—ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
The nervous rookies would then sidle up to the veterans.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 15 Mar. 2026
D.j. Short, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
Sieler had 10 tackles for loss, but the rookies combined for only four TFLs — two by Grant and one apiece by Phillips and Biggers.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Since the three two-way players joined the team and entered the rotation against Memphis on March 9, seven of Brooklyn’s nine top minute-getters have been rookies or players who spent time with Long Island this season, including Wolf, Saraf, Johnson, Drake Powell, Nolan Traoré and Josh Minott.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
Last season, just 20 rookies made rosters out of training camp.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The industry’s ability to take a slow bet on a writer, to develop them the way record labels develop musicians or sports teams develop rookies, becomes increasingly rare.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
With Markquese Bell and last year’s rookies Zion Childress and Alijah Clark on the roster, do the Cowboys need to add another safety?
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
Casey O’Brien, who leads all rookies this season with 14 points and three power-play goals, did not play (upper-body injury) for the Sirens.
—ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
The nervous rookies would then sidle up to the veterans.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rookies
Noun
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For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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Going beyond the standard pick-me-up, Gotcha Matcha uses high quality, ceremonial-grade matcha that appeals to novices and matcha enthusiasts alike.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the people who stand to benefit most from simple bodyweight exercises—like arm circles or glute bridges—are beginners or those who haven’t worked out in a while.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
SELF,
24 Mar. 2026
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Proton's design is sleek and fairly easy to navigate for beginners.—
Justyn Newman,
PC Magazine,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer — potentially the top two picks in this year’s historically deep NBA draft — are both freshmen.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Both continued on from their best performances of the season to become among the six freshmen to be named to Associated Press All-America teams — Wagler the second team, Flemings the third team.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The other two Democratic opponents are political newcomers.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
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With 40-plus newcomers joining the roster in the offseason, coach Scott Frost wants his team to get tougher, be more disciplined and more precise.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Rock stars and their equivalents in other genres often develop their craft in obscurity before being discovered; idols are apprentices, trained exhaustively by their management companies.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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Still, apprentices Justin, Jeff, and Meg, told us this beats their old jobs.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rookies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rookies. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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