Definition

A person who writes poetry that is considered to be of low quality or not serious.

Example

Despite his efforts, many critics labeled him a poetaster for his simplistic verses.

Conversation

I read some poetry online yesterday, and honestly, some of it felt like it was written by a poetaster.

Really? That sounds frustrating to come across.

Yeah, it’s disappointing when you expect something beautiful, but it’s just mediocre.

Totally! Good poetry can really move you, while a poetaster just misses the mark.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Poetaster is formed from "poet" (from Latin "poeta", meaning a maker or creator) and "-aster" (a diminutive suffix in Latin, meaning little or lesser). The term poetaster refers to a person who writes poetry, often implying a lack of skill or quality, thus suggesting a lesser poet.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'poet' as someone who creates poetry, and the '-aster' means 'little' or 'lesser'. This helps you remember that a poetaster is someone who writes poetry but is considered to be of lesser skill.

Visually Confused Words