Poetaster: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is used in a negative sense to describe a person who writes poetry of low quality or someone whose poetic abilities are perceived as amateurish.

• The critics dismissed him as nothing more than a poetaster who failed to grasp the deeper essence of poetry.
• Her verses were so clumsy that many considered her just a poetaster.

Often used derogatorily to describe a writer, including poets, who produces low-quality work, often for commercial reasons rather than artistic merit.

• He's just a hack, churning out books with little regard for literary quality.
• The poems felt like they were written by some hack desperate to make a quick buck.

A relatively neutral term for someone who makes verses. It does not necessarily imply high skill or artistry, usually focusing on the act of writing verses rather than their quality.

• The medieval versifier composed ballads that told stories of heroism and love.
• While not a literary genius, he was a competent versifier.

This term typically refers to someone who composes simple and often clichéd rhymes. It can be used neutrally but sometimes carries a slightly dismissive tone.

• The child's poem was charming in its simplicity, making him quite the little rhymester.
• His attempts at being a serious poet were often ridiculed, branding him merely a rhymester.