UNSKILLED

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unskilled mean? 

• UNSKILLED (adjective)
  The adjective UNSKILLED has 3 senses:

1. not having or showing or requiring special skill or proficiency

2. lacking professional skill or expertise

3. not doing a good job

  Familiarity information: UNSKILLED used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNSKILLED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not having or showing or requiring special skill or proficiency

Context example:

unskilled workmanship

Similar:

artless (showing lack of art)

botchy; butcherly; unskillful (poorly done)

botched; bungled (spoiled through incompetence or clumsiness)

bungling; clumsy; fumbling; incompetent (showing lack of skill or aptitude)

crude; rough (not carefully or expertly made)

hopeless (of a person unable to do something skillfully)

humble; lowly; menial (used of unskilled work (especially domestic work))

lubberly (clumsy and unskilled)

out of practice; rusty (impaired in skill by neglect)

semiskilled (possessing or requiring limited skills)

weak (deficient or lacking in some skill)

Also:

incompetent (not qualified or suited for a purpose)

inexperienced; inexperient (lacking practical experience or training)

Antonym:

skilled (having or showing or requiring special skill)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking professional skill or expertise

Synonyms:

amateur; amateurish; inexpert; unskilled

Context example:

an unskilled painting

Similar:

unprofessional (not characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not doing a good job

Synonyms:

incompetent; unskilled

Context example:

incompetent at chess

Similar:

bad (having undesirable or negative qualities)

 Context examples 

It is better than going to sea again, and I shall earn more money than any position in Oakland can bring an unskilled man.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The knowledge I had in mathematics, gave me great assistance in acquiring their phraseology, which depended much upon that science, and music; and in the latter I was not unskilled.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)