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
Denver now has three guards occupying its two-way spots, with Simpson joining rookies Curtis Jones and Tamar Bates.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2026
The league had offered housing to players for three years who were on minimum salary contracts as well as rookies in their first season.
—Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Some nights, that may mean extended minutes for the rookies.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Former Illini players and NBA rookies Kasparas Jakucionis (Miami Heat) and Will Riley (Washington Wizards) were at the State Farm Center to watch the game during the All-Star break.
—CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
The Rising Stars showcase features select NBA rookies and sophomores, and NBA G League players competing in a four-team minitournament that includes three games.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
The two rookies are the only serious contenders with Flagg for the Rookie of the Year award.
—Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026
The dunk contest is moving on from electric three-time winner Mac McClung as the league offers up an inexperienced quartet of rookies and role players.
—Scott Phillips, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Three teams have been drafted from rookies and second-year players while a fourth team will be comprised of G League players.
—Dan Loumena, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2026
The league had offered housing to players for three years who were on minimum salary contracts as well as rookies in their first season.
—Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Some nights, that may mean extended minutes for the rookies.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Former Illini players and NBA rookies Kasparas Jakucionis (Miami Heat) and Will Riley (Washington Wizards) were at the State Farm Center to watch the game during the All-Star break.
—CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
The Rising Stars showcase features select NBA rookies and sophomores, and NBA G League players competing in a four-team minitournament that includes three games.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
The two rookies are the only serious contenders with Flagg for the Rookie of the Year award.
—Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026
The dunk contest is moving on from electric three-time winner Mac McClung as the league offers up an inexperienced quartet of rookies and role players.
—Scott Phillips, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Three teams have been drafted from rookies and second-year players while a fourth team will be comprised of G League players.
—Dan Loumena, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 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,
4 Feb. 2026
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Phil and Renee Shafer are the owners of Cast + Clara Bell, a resource for both cast-iron novices and collectors.—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Group of beginners, hobbyists and professionals who like to take and share photos.—
Staff Report,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2026
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The ski treadmill offers some real benefits, especially for kids and beginners.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Their freshmen Killyan Toure, Dominykas Pleta, Jamarion Batemon,) are good.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
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She’s spent the day helping freshmen learn essential skills and navigate the stresses of their first year of college.—
Tom Grimes,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For some newcomers to community engagement around immigration, joining such action gives them a sense of purpose and usefulness.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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The helmer, who has Bissau-Guinean and Senegalese origins, wrote and directed the film which stars a mix of actors and newcomers, leading with Katy Correa and D’Johé Kouadio as a mother-and-daughter duo.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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By drawing attention to practices at their most fragile moment, the USL is creating space for those interactions — enabling masters to teach and apprentices to learn.—
Kristin Houser,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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The pope, at this very moment, is having the fallen part of the Colosseum rebuilt; half a dozen mason’s apprentices, without any scaffolding, are righting the colossus on whose shoulders a nation, transformed into slave laborers, perished.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rookies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rookies. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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