TINKERER Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words

tinkerer

noun

Definition of tinkerer

as in amateur

a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession he's been tinkering with cars since he was a kid, and now he's a tinkerer who knows nearly as much as a mechanic

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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 tinkerer Even among the most distinguished tracks in this knowingly suite-like album, White doesn’t resist his tinkerer’s instinct for microstructures. — Ryan Meehan, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026 But in July, some intrepid tinkerers on Reddit’s r/synthdiy board began reverse-engineering the FM-1’s stock firmware to expand the device’s abilities. — ArsTechnica, 26 Oct. 2026 Later, she’s taken in by a tinkerer with a tiny cult, and bonds with another woman there. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 How did the behind-the-scenes tinkerer become the singer in his band? — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026 The repair cafes are particularly special, said Conchas, who watched a tinkerer resurrect a broken family trinket box last year. — Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Aug. 2026 When an experiment fails, the tinkerer does not collapse emotionally. — Lintao "lt" Lu, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 In the coming months, the company plans to add more functionality and self-serve features to allow a wider range of use cases and users, eventually reaching individual tinkerers. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 21 July 2026 Enthusiasts and tinkerers alike are building their own versions using Open Source software and inexpensive hardware. — New Atlas, 18 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinkerer

Noun

Lily’s status as an amateur makes this struggle all the more poignant.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
For a few moments, the image jerks around in a raw amateur way.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of amateur

Noun

Among the largest companies in the trading card and collectibles industry, PSA’s progress toward fully reopening will be closely monitored by hobbyists and competitors alike.

— Benjamin Burrows, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Jenny Hughes is a serial hobbyist, plant parent, and actual parent to a 1-year-old.

— Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of hobbyist

Noun

Hays was elected Southern Baptist Convention president, one of the few laymen to ever hold the position, in 1957 and 1958.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
Any fan of the franchise will tell you that the full lore of the world crafted by Tetsuya Nomura is virtually nonsensical to explain to a layman.

— Brian Welk, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of layman

Noun

Supporters had campaigned for Merlin to be allowed into the Azteca to witness Mexico’s final group game — but the dabbler found his free passage impeded on Wednesday evening by FIFA regulations.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026
In 1937, Stalin, himself a former dabbler in the language, reversed course on Esperanto and herded its speakers into gulags on account of its internationalist appeal.

— Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026