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
As funds grow larger, the combination of junior associates seeking a track record and unskilled entrepreneurs seeking more VC at earlier stages could lead to significant failures.
—
Dileep Rao, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Many of those jobs, though categorized as unskilled labor, require specialized training and physical stamina that is not readily available in the existing U.S. workforce.
—Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024
An oligarchic economy emerged in the region, centered on mining, oil extraction, and railroads, which, like the cotton economy of the South, depended on lots of capital and masses of unskilled workers.
—Heather Cox Richardson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2020
With a background in education, Westhoff and Masood came up with the idea of a hybrid, online and offline, academy that would train up unskilled workers - many of them migrants - who might otherwise be working in fast food outlets or for delivery firms.
—Trevor Clawson, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unskilled
Dileep Rao, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Many of those jobs, though categorized as unskilled labor, require specialized training and physical stamina that is not readily available in the existing U.S. workforce.
—Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024
An oligarchic economy emerged in the region, centered on mining, oil extraction, and railroads, which, like the cotton economy of the South, depended on lots of capital and masses of unskilled workers.
—Heather Cox Richardson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2020
With a background in education, Westhoff and Masood came up with the idea of a hybrid, online and offline, academy that would train up unskilled workers - many of them migrants - who might otherwise be working in fast food outlets or for delivery firms.
—Trevor Clawson, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unskilled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unskilled
Adjective
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Long Bright River, whose eight-episode season will stream in full on March 13, is neither a transcendent nor an incompetent example of this type of show.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
12 Mar. 2025
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Of course, people love making memes that portray their political adversaries as hapless and incompetent.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Entering 2025, the club responded during the January transfer window by replacing players unfit for Fabregas' tactical system with ten new signings, including Maxence Caqueret (Lyon), Assane Diao (Real Betis) and Barcelona loanee Alex Valle.—
David Ferrini,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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But both those cases were dismissed after he was found unfit to stand trial, said a spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Child and Dependent Care Credit: Provides a credit for a percentage of expenses paid for the care of qualifying individuals, such as children under 13 or a spouse or dependent who is incapable of self-care, to enable the taxpayer to work or look for work.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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The apartment belongs to Booth, who doesn’t work and seems incapable of holding down a job.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unskilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unskilled. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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