1
as in inexperienced
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
an inexpert attempt at putting on an outdoor concert
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in incompetent
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
the inexpert mechanic only made the problem worse—and charged me a fortune for doing it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
well-meaning but inexpert expressions of sympathy from friends after the funeral
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in amateur
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science
the shoddy tiling in the bathroom was a sure sign that it was the work of an inexpert
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inexpert
Dallas News, 6 May 2022
The procedure is not without risk: The mortality rate from tellurium injections is 12 percent, and can rise as high as 68 percent for children when the work is performed by an inexpert hand.
—Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022
That’s not surprising: Conspiracy theorists often aim to ply the inexpert masses with plausible-sounding but inaccurate legalisms in order to sow confusion.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2021
The evening was a simple, completely inexpert exercise in apolitical comity.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 6 June 2021
Brainy, mannered, dryly amused, ‘The Inheritance’ can appear willfully inexpert; the self-conscious acting feels both deliberate and the work of a director who hasn’t spent much time working with actors.
—Mark Olsen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2021
Adjective
Despite the exhibition’s dynamism and appreciated efforts to frame each work for the viewer, the accompanying wall text and political readings felt thin and inexpert at times.
—Dallas News, 6 May 2022
The procedure is not without risk: The mortality rate from tellurium injections is 12 percent, and can rise as high as 68 percent for children when the work is performed by an inexpert hand.
—Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022
That’s not surprising: Conspiracy theorists often aim to ply the inexpert masses with plausible-sounding but inaccurate legalisms in order to sow confusion.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2021
The evening was a simple, completely inexpert exercise in apolitical comity.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 6 June 2021
Brainy, mannered, dryly amused, ‘The Inheritance’ can appear willfully inexpert; the self-conscious acting feels both deliberate and the work of a director who hasn’t spent much time working with actors.
—Mark Olsen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inexpert
Adjective
-
And the protections shouldn't be such that someone who's incompetent is allowed to stay in a job.—
Mo Rocca,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2025
-
The agency found Cardwell was grossly incompetent, but investigators declined to pursue criminal charges.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Amazon’s best-selling soup bowls are made with triple-layered glass that even the clumsiest folks may find hard to break.—
Ashley Zlatopolsky,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Okay too many clumsy Star Wars references there, but one thing the report also correctly notes is that this would be a rare development where Star Wars recruits a top A-list actor to star in a film.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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That hasn’t stopped amateurs from giving it their best shot, even before Stalin’s $1 million incentive.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Radio amateurs have been using such techniques for years to build antennas as high as 1 kilometer, so the researchers built a kite version prototype.—
Dan Goodin,
Ars Technica,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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There are another 10 or so, such as Lil Joe, who are unfit for release after difficult histories.—
Kevin Spear,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Lee Monroe Straight-leg Jeans $43 $28 at Amazon Denim is notoriously unfit for traveling in, but reviewers say these Lee jeans are an exception.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In his defense, the Anti-Defamation League tweeted from X that Musk’s gesture seemed to be an awkward expression of enthusiasm.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
24 Jan. 2025
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What can expect from that visit and just kind of how awkward will things be now after these comments?—
Taylor Wilson,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This ultramodern property just 15 minutes away from Woodstock is one of our favorite treehouse Airbnbs, offering a luxe off-the-grid experience for seasoned (or beginner) glampers.—
Rachel Fletcher,
Architectural Digest,
23 Jan. 2025
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All are welcome from beginners to those with a practice for years.—
Joe Rassel,
Orlando Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Now, Trump has four years of White House experience while Vance is a novice.—
Roy Brownell,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Apart from Musk’s most loyal sycophants, the build was almost universally ridiculed as the work of a complete novice.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But then, footage from her own surveillance cameras shows the kids deliberately taunting her, shaking their butts in her direction.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
25 Jan. 2025
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On a regular day to get the kids out and on their way, my alarm is set to 6:55.—
Eileen Finan,
People.com,
25 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near inexpert
Cite this Entry
“Inexpert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inexpert. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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