small-time
Barely worth noticing
Small-time describes something minor, insignificant, or operating on a limited scale.
A small-time crook commits petty crimes rather than elaborate heists.
A small-time operation lacks the resources or ambition of major players.
The word carries a dismissive edge—calling someone small-time suggests they'll never amount to much: He's just a small-time hustler.
Below professional level
- two-bitPetty and inferior
- bush-leagueInferior, lacking polish
- penny-anteTrivially small in scope
- rinky-dinkInferior and amateurish
nickel-and-dime · low-rent · second-rate · third-rate · no-account · piddling · trifling · inconsequential
One's place of origin
- neighborhoodResidential area nearby
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- regionalRelating to an area
- parochialNarrow in perspective
village · backwater · one-horse · podunk · mom-and-pop · family-owned · grassroots · community
minor-league
Below professional level
- two-bitPetty and inferior
- bush-leagueInferior, lacking polish
- penny-anteTrivially small in scope
rinky-dink · nickel-and-dime · low-rent · second-rate · third-rate · no-account · piddling · trifling · inconsequential · negligible
hometown
One's place of origin
- neighborhoodResidential area nearby
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- regionalRelating to an area
parochial · village · backwater · one-horse · podunk · mom-and-pop · family-owned · grassroots · community · rural
petty
Of little importance
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- con-artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
racketeer · crook · swindler · hood · thug · hoodlum · gangster · mobster · fence · bookie
novice
Inexperienced newcomer to field
hobbyist · greenhorn · newcomer · wannabe · aspiring · fledgling · struggling · unproven · unknown · up-and-coming
small-timebig-time
At top professional level
major-league · major · big-league · large-scale · worldwide
small-timebig-time
At top professional level
major-league · big-league · important · prominent · elite