dabblers
Not serious practitioners
Dabblers are people who engage in activities superficially rather than seriously or professionally.
A dabbler in painting might take a weekend class but never commit to the craft.
The word carries mild dismissiveness—suggesting dilettantism rather than dedication: The conference attracted serious researchers and dabblers alike.
Ducks that feed by tipping forward in shallow water are also called dabblers.
Nonprofessional participants
- enthusiastsPeople deeply into something
- hobbyistsRecreational pursuit enthusiasts
- tinkerersCasual experimenters with objects
- dilettantesSuperficial pursuers of arts
weekenders · part-timers · experimenters · samplers · flutterers · putterers · tryers · explorers
Superficial pursuers of arts
- scratchersInstant lottery tickets
- skimmersTools removing surface matter
- non-expertsThose without specialized training
- lightweightsPeople of little influence
uncommitted · half-hearted · unfocused · scattered · fickle · inconsistent · passing fancy · unserious
Makers of creative works
- paintersThose who apply pigment
- writersText composition professionals
- musiciansPeople who create music
- craftersPeople making things by hand
photographers · poets · sculptors · sketchers · watercolorists · guitarists · pianists · ceramicists
Those who commit capital
- tradersProfessional buyers and sellers
- speculatorsThose betting on markets
- stock pickersPeople choosing individual equities
- day tradersInvestors who liquidate daily
amateurs
Nonprofessional participants
- enthusiastsPeople deeply into something
- hobbyistsRecreational pursuit enthusiasts
- tinkerersCasual experimenters with objects
dilettantes · weekenders · part-timers · experimenters · samplers · flutterers · putterers · tryers · explorers · novices
dilettantes
Superficial pursuers of arts
- scratchersInstant lottery tickets
- skimmersTools removing surface matter
- non-expertsThose without specialized training
lightweights · uncommitted · half-hearted · unfocused · scattered · fickle · inconsistent · passing fancy · unserious · non-specialists
artists
Makers of creative works
- paintersThose who apply pigment
- writersText composition professionals
- musiciansPeople who create music
crafters · photographers · poets · sculptors · sketchers · watercolorists · guitarists · pianists · ceramicists · weavers
investors
Those who commit capital
- tradersProfessional buyers and sellers
- speculatorsThose betting on markets
- stock pickersPeople choosing individual equities
day traders · retail investors · side hustlers · moonlighters
- casual fanscasual viewers, casual gamers, casual readers, part-timers
- amateursamateur, hobbyist, nonprofessional, novice, beginner
- makersmakers, filmmaker, crafter, watchmaker, crafters
- newcomersnewcomers, newcomer, new arrivals, new arrival, newbie
- nonexpertslaymen, laypeople, laypersons, laywomen, laity
dabblersexperts
Highly skilled practitioners
masters · professionals · specialists · connoisseurs · virtuosos
dabblersprofessionals
Skilled, paid practitioners
full-timers · tradespeople · journeymen · lifers · careerists