dilettante 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of dilettantenext
as in amateur
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill many dilettante efforts could be seen at the sidewalk art show

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dilettante

2 of 2

noun

ˈdi-lə-ˌtänt How to pronounce dilettante (audio)
1
as in tinkerer
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession a dilettante at heart, she was never willing to commit the time and effort that ballet demands

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scholar
dated a person having a knowledgeable and fine appreciation of the arts she writes about art not from the point of view of an artist but from that of a committed dilettante

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun dilettante differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dilettante are amateur, dabbler, and tyro. While all these words mean "a person who follows a pursuit without attaining proficiency or professional status," 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

When would amateur be a good substitute for dilettante?

Although the words amateur and dilettante have much in common, 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

When is it sensible to use dabbler instead of dilettante?

The words dabbler and dilettante are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dabbler suggests desultory habits of work and lack of persistence.

a dabbler who started novels but never finished them

Where would tyro be a reasonable alternative to dilettante?

The meanings of tyro and dilettante largely overlap; however, tyro implies inexperience often combined with audacity with resulting crudeness or blundering.

shows talent but is still a mere tyro

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 dilettante
Adjective
The dilettante witches wind up waking a beast more dreadful than mid-life ennui. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026 Growing amounts of data and processing power mean that now even dilettante data scientists can write blog posts ( here and here) about coding your own boat-detection software. — IEEE Spectrum, 4 Feb. 2022
Noun
Dupre, whose family ran a ski resort stateside and who taught hospitality management at Harvard, is no hotel-owning dilettante. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2025 Packer and Srulovich aren’t dilettantes, either. — Lela London, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dilettante
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilettante
  1. amateur
  2. tinkerer
  3. scholar
  4. inexperienced
  5. connoisseur
  6. devotee
Adjective
  • Born in 1865 into a wealthy family of landowners and wine merchants, Fayet learned to paint alongside his father and uncle, both amateur artists.
    — Julie Coe, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026
  • This year's tournament included 80 professional and amateur squads from Major League Soccer, United Soccer League, and other leagues.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of amateur
Noun
  • Later, she’s taken in by a tinkerer with a tiny cult, and bonds with another woman there.
    — Los Angeles Times, 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
Definition of tinkerer
Noun
  • The scholar Colin Burrow, discussing Helen Vendler recently, described the goal of criticism as telling other people how good something is.
    — Lola Seaton, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Sabrina came from a high-status family of scholars, and Phillip, the struggling musician and child of butchers, wasn’t enough for her family.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of scholar
Adjective
  • These experienced and skilled athletes, who are often 22 or 23 years old, are appealing to coaches, especially when compared with inexperienced and physically less developed freshmen.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Hafley also cautioned against placing the sole blame on Willis, who started just the 11th game of his career and is leading a young offense with mostly inexperienced receivers who are still developing chemistry.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Noun
  • Long revered by Italian connoisseurs but little known elsewhere, Leoncillo is enjoying something of a revival.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Less heralded but still beloved by Alpine connoisseurs of a certain age is its successor, the A310.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of connoisseur
Noun
  • The show was both a touchstone and a lightning rod for its depiction of a group of millennial young women in New York, with its vocal haters often louder than its many devotees.
    — Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Nespresso devotee in your life will delight at the chance to try a different classic or limited-edition coffee capsule every day in the lead-up to Christmas.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of devotee

Browse Nearby Words

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dilettante
dilettantes
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Cite this Entry

“Dilettante.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilettante. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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