1
as in inexperienced
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
an unskilled handling of the facial features in the portrait explains why it is attributed to "school of Velázquez" and not to the master himself
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in incompetent
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
hired unskilled workers because they would work for lower wages
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unskilled
When someone loses their cool, feedback is often unskilled, laden with negative emotion and unactionable.
—
Hanna Hart, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
In 1988, skilled and unskilled industrial workers, clerical staff, and government officials accounted for 80 percent of those in the top five percent of income earners.
—Branko Milanovic, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019
Furthermore, although the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act promises 100 days of unskilled employment, households have rarely gotten more than 50 days of employment on average.
—Shamika Ravi, Foreign Affairs, 6 Apr. 2017
Related Stories Whoever says this is unskilled work is either ignorant or lying.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unskilled
Hanna Hart, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
In 1988, skilled and unskilled industrial workers, clerical staff, and government officials accounted for 80 percent of those in the top five percent of income earners.
—Branko Milanovic, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019
Furthermore, although the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act promises 100 days of unskilled employment, households have rarely gotten more than 50 days of employment on average.
—Shamika Ravi, Foreign Affairs, 6 Apr. 2017
Related Stories Whoever says this is unskilled work is either ignorant or lying.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unskilled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unskilled
Adjective
-
Some seemed to be downright incompetent, Marquez told the jury.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
-
The defense has argued that others possibly killed O’Keefe inside that home and that the police were either too incompetent or corrupt to investigate that angle.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Newcastle was eight games into the 2020-21 season with no wins to its name, its squad unfit and directionless.—
Harry De Cosemo,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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But the dreamscape is an airless place, unfit for permanent residence.—
Book Marks
July 3,
Literary Hub,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Here, Rodel shares how to make the unfitted kitchen trend your own, one statement-worthy piece at a time.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
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Mix Materials The beauty in the unfitted kitchen aesthetic is found in its collected look.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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For the eight minutes the Mets batted in the bottom of the eighth, Garrett was a shark incapable of pausing even for a second.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
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There have been countless occasions when he was asked to get another batter, another few outs, when his weary body was simply incapable of doing so.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unskilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unskilled. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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