Inexperienced — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˌi-nik-ˈspir-ē-ən(t)s/ in·ex·pe·ri·ence

Meaning & Definition of Inexperienced

Inexperienced (noun)

  1. lack of practical experience
  2. lack of knowledge of the ways of the world

Inexperienced (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking in adult experience or maturity

    "inexperienced teenagers who, naturally, thought they knew everything"

    similar: adolescent, callow, green, immature, juvenile, puerile, raw, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened, wet behind the ears
    related: babyish, childish, infantile, infantilized, infantine, boyish, girlish, juvenescent, kiddish, young, youngish, youthful, maidenly, virginal, ingenuous, innocent, naive, tender, unknowing, unseasoned, unsophisticated, untrained, untried
    opposite: adult, experienced, grown-up, mature, ripe
    near: advanced, precocious, knowing, savvy, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise

  2. lacking or showing a lack of expert skill

    "an inexperienced carpenter had obviously built the rough-hewn cabin"

    similar: amateur, amateurish, dilettante, dilettantish, inexpert, jackleg, nonprofessional, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful
    related: curbstone, self-taught, uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed, crude, defective, faulty, flawed, primitive, unfinished, unpolished, beginning, entry-level, fresh, green, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be, incapable, incompetent, talentless, unable, unfit, ungifted, untalented
    opposite: ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful, masterly, professional, virtuosic, virtuoso
    near: able, accomplished, capable, competent, dexterous, gifted, habile, handsome, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented, experienced, practiced, seasoned, veteran, educated, fitted, initiated, knowledgeable, prepared, qualified, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, versed, all-around, ambidextrous, versatile, well-rounded, finished, polished, slick

Related Entry: Inexperience (noun)

Inexperience is a different word from Inexperienced. The synonyms below are for inexperience, not for inexperienced.

  1. lack of experience

    "He blames his mistakes at the new job on inexperience."

    similar: callowness, greenness, naïveté, rawness, simpleness, unsophistication, benightedness, cluelessness, ignorance, incognizance, innocence, nescience, obliviousness, unawareness, unfamiliarity
    opposite: experience, know-how, sophistication, acquaintance, awareness, cognizance, familiarity

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Inexperienced

The most common words with a similar meaning to Inexperienced:

adolescent, callow, green, immature, juvenile, puerile, raw, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened, amateur, amateurish, dilettante, dilettantish, inexpert, jackleg, nonprofessional, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful, wet behind the ears

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Inexperienced

Words with the opposite meaning of Inexperienced:

adult, experienced, grown-up, mature, ripe, ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful, masterly, professional, virtuosic, virtuoso

Related Words for Inexperienced

babyish, childish, infantile, infantilized, infantine, boyish, girlish, juvenescent, kiddish, young, youngish, youthful, maidenly, virginal, ingenuous, innocent, naive, tender, unknowing, unseasoned, unsophisticated, untrained, untried, curbstone, self-taught, uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught

Near Antonyms of Inexperienced

advanced, precocious, knowing, savvy, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise, able, accomplished, capable, competent, dexterous, gifted, habile, handsome, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented, practiced, seasoned, veteran, educated, fitted, initiated, knowledgeable, prepared, qualified, schooled, taught

Word Forms of Inexperienced

Derived words: inexperienced (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Inexperienced

Middle French, from Late Latin inexperientia, from Latin in- + experientia experience

First known use: 1598

Frequently Asked Questions about Inexperienced

What does "Inexperienced" mean?

"Inexperienced" means lack of practical experience. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: lack of practical experience. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Inexperienced"?

Other words for "Inexperienced" include adolescent, callow, green, immature, juvenile, puerile, raw and unfledged. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Inexperienced" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Inexperienced"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Inexperienced". Common alternatives include adolescent, callow, green, immature, juvenile, puerile, raw, unfledged, unformed and unripe.

What is the opposite of "Inexperienced"?

Antonyms of "Inexperienced" include adult, experienced, grown-up, mature, ripe, ace, adept and consummate. Near antonyms include advanced, precocious, knowing and savvy.

How do you use "Inexperienced" in a sentence?

Examples of "Inexperienced" in a sentence: "inexperienced teenagers who, naturally, thought they knew everything"; "an inexperienced carpenter had obviously built the rough-hewn cabin".

Is "Inexperienced" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Inexperienced" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Inexperienced"?

"Inexperienced" is pronounced /ˌi-nik-ˈspir-ē-ən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as in·ex·pe·ri·ence.

What is the origin of the word "Inexperienced"?

"Inexperienced" comes from Middle French, from Late Latin inexperientia, from Latin in- + experientia experience. First known use: 1598.