adj
amateurish
A-muh-chuu-ihsh
Amateurish (adj) means lacking skill or polish; looking like the work of a beginner rather than a professional. Example: “The website design looked amateurish, with mismatched fonts and broken links.”
adj
1
Lacking skill or polish; looking like the work of a beginner rather than a professional.
"The website design looked amateurish, with mismatched fonts and broken links."
"Critics called the special effects amateurish compared to the rest of the film."
How to use amateurish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnprofessional-looking or clumsily done — always a criticism.
Common mistake
Unlike "amateur" (which can be neutral), "amateurish" is always negative — it specifically means low-quality, not just unpaid.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more amateurish
- Superlative
- most amateurish
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The website design looked _____, with mismatched fonts and broken links.
Etymology
From amateur plus the suffix -ish, which here means "resembling" or "having the qualities of".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for amateurish
See all rhymes for amateurish →Frequently asked questions
What does “amateurish” mean?
The word “amateurish” means lacking skill or polish; looking like the work of a beginner rather than a professional. In plain terms, unprofessional-looking or clumsily done — always a criticism.
How do you pronounce “amateurish”?
“Amateurish” is pronounced A-muh-chuu-ihsh (/ˈæ.mə.t͡ʃʊɚ.ɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “amateurish” in a sentence?
Here is “amateurish” used in a sentence: “The website design looked amateurish, with mismatched fonts and broken links.”
What part of speech is “amateurish”?
“Amateurish” is an adjective.
