poetaster
noun
po·et·as·ter ˈpō-ə-ˌta-stər 
: an inferior poet
Did you know?
In Latin, the suffix -aster indicates partial resemblance. In both Latin and English, that often translates to "second-rate," or maybe even "third-rate." Not surprisingly, "poetaster" often goes hand in hand with doggerel, meaning "verse marked by triviality or inferiority." Are there are other kinds of "-asters" out there? Yes indeed - we have criticasters, philosophasters, and politicasters, among others.
Synonyms
- bard
- minstrel
- muse
- poet
- rhymester
- rimester
- versifier
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
she's a poetaster whose verse never rises above what is found on greeting cards
Recent Examples on the Web Heti’s detractors could probably put a bottle in the middle of a table and entertain themselves reading lines out of context in suave, poetaster voices. 
New York Times, 7 Feb. 2022 But -aster words have never been particularly common, with the exception of poetaster, an inferior poet. Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 June 2018
New York Times, 7 Feb. 2022 But -aster words have never been particularly common, with the exception of poetaster, an inferior poet. Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 June 2018 Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Latin poeta + -aster -aster
First Known Use
1601, in the meaning defined above
poetaster
noun
as in poet
a person who writes poetry she's a poetaster whose verse never rises above what is found on greeting cards Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- poet
- minstrel
- rhymester
- versifier
- bard
- muse
- rimester
- poetess
- epigrammatist
- troubadour
- sonneteer
- poet laureate
- rhapsodist
- rhymer
- lyricist
- scop
- rhapsode
- epigrammatizer