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
Eric Galko, the director of football operations for the East-West Shrine bowl, is bullish about several Dolphins rookies who will debut during the team’s minicamp on Friday.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Root for the new rookies who were just selected in the NFL Draft.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
The Chiefs shared four photos of the rookies trying on equipment at the team facility.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
But Carter and Charles have some experience and Glass and Reese — a pair of undrafted rookies — might have upside worth exploring.
—Mike Kaye
may 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Here’s a look at what has happened with the rookies since draft weekend.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
Last year’s backfield ended up featuring three rookies in Judkins, Dylan Sampson and Rocket Sanders.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 5 May 2026
But among players such as rookies Rodriguez, the second-round pick from Texas Tech, Trey Moore, the fourth-round pick from Texas, and Kyle Louis, the fourth-round pick from Pitt, perhaps someone emerges or perhaps a hybrid role is created.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Delaney, Kutryk and Teteryatnikov are all rookies.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Root for the new rookies who were just selected in the NFL Draft.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
The Chiefs shared four photos of the rookies trying on equipment at the team facility.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
But Carter and Charles have some experience and Glass and Reese — a pair of undrafted rookies — might have upside worth exploring.
—Mike Kaye
may 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Here’s a look at what has happened with the rookies since draft weekend.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
Last year’s backfield ended up featuring three rookies in Judkins, Dylan Sampson and Rocket Sanders.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 5 May 2026
But among players such as rookies Rodriguez, the second-round pick from Texas Tech, Trey Moore, the fourth-round pick from Texas, and Kyle Louis, the fourth-round pick from Pitt, perhaps someone emerges or perhaps a hybrid role is created.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Delaney, Kutryk and Teteryatnikov are all rookies.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rookies
Noun
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Both of the Broadway novices are proudly bearing souvenirs of other passion projects.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
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Many of us, both novices and veterans alike, tend to use too much force when molding our patties.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Folsom has Lake Natoma, which the campaign says caters to beginners, families and competitive paddlers, citing the lake’s 5 mph speed limit.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
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Most beginners assume more water equals a happier plant.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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One in eight freshmen at UC San Diego requires special remedial math classes just to catch up.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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With the significant turnover in the Senate, there is a real opportunity for freshmen legislators to serve on significant committees next year.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Noun
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But its games still bring a mix of newcomers, out-of-towners and people who couldn’t get tickets to whatever was going on at The Sphere.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
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The friendships were fleeting, necessarily occasional, as there were always church newcomers and samplers and people moving away.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
Noun
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Nineteen-year-old James Shavers is one of the pre-apprentices at Prosperity Building Futures Trades & Entrepreneurship Training Center.—
Suzanne Le Mignot,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
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Arthur Bryant’s and Gates Bar-B-Q, whose origins can be traced back to Henry Perry through his apprentices decades ago.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rookies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rookies. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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