would-be

adjective

Definition of would-benext
as in inexperienced

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 would-be If a would-be client makes a lowball offer—forty-five dollars an hour, say, instead of the usual sixty—it can be rejected in the certain knowledge that more can be made working for someone else. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026 The Titans, coached by former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, are expected to play their would-be first-stringers. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 During the two days of joint practices, Bailey registered three would-be sacks on Mayfield. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 Their midcentury-modern Bel Air home, built by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, was the type of property some would-be homeowners spend decades waiting to hit the market. — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for would-be
Recent Examples of Synonyms for would-be
  1. inexperienced
  2. new
  3. untried
  4. amateur
  5. unseasoned
  6. beginning
  7. unskilled
  8. untested
Adjective
  • There will be no lifeguards, and county rangers caution that the beach, like many along the Northern California coast, can have rip currents that pose a threat to inexperienced swimmers.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • So Harbaugh created this competition of two inexperienced kickers.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Adjective
  • In July, Heated Rivalry actor Hudson Williams was spotted in Seoul wearing a pair of calf-length white shorts from Descalco, a new swimwear brand that launches this week.
    — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Conceptually inspired by the 1989 Pininfarina Mythos, the Kode89 utilizes a new proprietary aluminum spaceframe and a carbon-fiber body.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of new
Adjective
  • Still, all but Verse (7 ½ sacks last year) are untried.
    — Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2026
  • The audacity of such a mission, wrapping so many untried things into a single flight, meant Artemis III would not have launched for at least two more years, and probably more like three, four, or more.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of untried
Adjective
  • This new attack on Title IX is alarming, says Traci Carson, an epidemiologist and an amateur competitive cyclist, who has studied the effects of athletic training on women’s fertility.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Stocks plays a young teen named Maz, an amateur astronomer still grieving the disappearance of her scientist father (Rheon).
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of amateur
Adjective
  • The comedian is partnering with Knorr to joke about unseasoned chicken in a series of social videos.
    — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
  • And unlike most onigiri, typically made with unseasoned rice, Choe is using both white and purple sushi rice.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of unseasoned
Adjective
  • After his beginning years in the cafe, Trygar has since moved to the maintenance department and has been responsible for taking care some of Kennywood's iconic rides like the Racer, the Log Jammer, and the Merry Go Round.
    — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 7 May 2026
  • The band joins Yellowcard for the Up Up Down Down Tour, a 27-date spring outing with Plain White T’s beginning May 6 in Atlanta and concluding June 20 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2026
Definition of beginning
Adjective
  • The jobs were broken down into around 200 management roles, 67 office or clerical roles, 67 professional, 534 skilled and 133 unskilled.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Understand What The Skills Gap Actually Rewards Of the owners who couldn’t fill their openings, 27% said skilled roles went unfilled, and 12% said the same for unskilled roles.
    — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
Definition of unskilled
Adjective
  • Rydell insisted that Midler — then an untested actress known for her prowess as a nightclub singer — be cast as the Janis Joplin-like rocker Mary Rose Foster in The Rose.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • This would mean an untested system would be used on election day.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of untested

Browse Nearby Words

worthy
would-be
wound
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/would-be. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on would-be

Nglish: Translation of would-be for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All