Synonym Chooser

How does the noun tyro differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tyro are amateur, dabbler, and dilettante. While all these words mean "a person who follows a pursuit without attaining proficiency or professional status," tyro implies inexperience often combined with audacity with resulting crudeness or blundering.

shows talent but is still a mere tyro

When could amateur be used to replace tyro?

While the synonyms amateur and tyro are close in meaning, amateur often applies to one practicing an art without mastery of its essentials; in sports it may also suggest not so much lack of skill but avoidance of direct remuneration.

a painting obviously done by an amateur
remained an amateur despite lucrative offers

In what contexts can dabbler take the place of tyro?

The synonyms dabbler and tyro are sometimes interchangeable, but dabbler suggests desultory habits of work and lack of persistence.

a dabbler who started novels but never finished them

When can dilettante be used instead of tyro?

The meanings of dilettante and tyro largely overlap; however, dilettante may apply to the lover of an art rather than its skilled practitioner but usually implies elegant trifling in the arts and an absence of serious commitment.

had no patience for dilettantes

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 tyro If Fishman’s math holds up, ESPN could be looking at a 20% boost in overall revenue in just seven years’ time—a feat that likely would be wholly improbable if the sports unit were to maintain the status quo or promote the streaming tyro at the expense of the foundational TV network. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Dec. 2024 Rabe also steers the movie’s helm, alongside her life partner and fellow actor Hamish Linklater, and the tyro directors manage to thread a tricky needle with their first feature, navigating the chasm and the overlap between agitated and quiet, between cartoon brightness and angst. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 June 2023 This intelligent, sensitive treatment of the rarely seen, everyday lives of young Palestinian citizens of Israel marks tyro feature writer-director Firas Khoury as a talent to watch, as well as a solid acquisition for Film Movement, the North American distributor. Alissa Simon, Variety, 22 Nov. 2022 When a tyro Steve Jobs or Bill Gates moved a lever back and forth, different configurations of those cylinders caused the Digi-Comp to compute Boolean logic operations. Jim Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2014 Ayyub played another student leader, a tyro named Shiva Shekhar—not quite the main role, but a key one nevertheless, and a fillip to his career. Samanth Subramanian, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2022 Outfitted in progressively more luscious frocks by Susan Hilferty, Feldstein makes a journey from nervy tyro to nervier pro. Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2022 The contenders in the original screenplay field are dominated by repeat WGA and Academy Award nominees with a few breakthrough tyro scribes in the mix. Danielle Turchiano, Variety, 30 Dec. 2021 The songs on the young rock tyro's debut album Teenage Heartbreak (out Friday) channel the irresistible riffs, explosive choruses and mix of lust, heartache, rebellion and angst that defined pop-punk's golden age. John Norris, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tyro
Noun
  • But former employees said the organization contributed hundreds of millions of dollars toward promoting novice teachers.
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 6 May 2025
  • Plus, its Smart Connect button and auto-protocol selection simplify the setup, even for VPN novices.
    StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • Take full advantage of the tax code and set yourself up for success with these five small-business tax tips for beginners.
    Vlad Rusz, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • More than 30 coin dealers will have high quality coins for the beginner to advanced collectors.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Photo: Getty Images Each winter, Wright and his apprentices would caravan from Spring Green to Scottsdale to continue their work in warmer weather.
    Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2025
  • On her journey, Gerda makes friends with people, birds, beasts, and a kind witch, unaware that a hostile, unseen enemy – the Snow Queen and her devil apprentice, Louie – is watching her.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • Gardiner fit in on the top line perfectly, putting together an excellent rookie season bested only in points by Sarah Fillier.
    Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • In the kinetic new underdog sports drama from director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), a retired Formula One racer (Brad Pitt) takes a young rookie prodigy (Damson Idris) under his wing for the Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP).
    Ben Rosenstock, Time, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Created by Lion Shield, a three-man development team based in Oregon, this accessible strategy game combines resource management, urban planning and light-defense mechanics, offering a relaxing, yet engaging, experience that appeals to newcomers and fans of the genre.
    Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
  • The movie, which is in French, is an incredible feat of casting, with an ensemble heavy on newcomers and unknowns (Finding Aubry Dullin, who plays Belmondo with the idiosyncratic appeal of the screen icon, is a particular miracle).
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • Bryce Underwood, the hyped freshman who’s vying for the top spot in Ann Arbor, could stand to have his coach alongside, especially if the Wolverines’ visit is selected to kick off under the lights.
    Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 14 May 2025
  • One of the best freshmen in Southern California, Ayala went 7-3 with a 0.82 ERA in helping the Cougars win 12 of their last 13 games.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tyro.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tyro. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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