adept

²adept

adj \ə-ˈdept also ˈa-ˌdept\

Definition of ADEPT

: thoroughly proficient : expert <adept at fixing cars>

— adept·ly \ə-ˈdep-(t)lē, a-\ adverb

— adept·ness \-ˈdep(t)-nəs\ noun

Examples of ADEPT

1. He's adept in several languages.
2. <he's an adept pitcher, and the team is lucky to have him>
3. Madison, Jefferson's lifelong friend, collaborator, and political ally, was quizzical and skeptical. His mind was less capacious and less elevated than Jefferson's, but more … original, and instinctively contrary. Less learned than Jefferson, his verbal skills inferior, he was almost pedantically alert to inner complications, and so, though less adept a politician, he was more consistent. —Bernard Bailyn, To Begin the World Anew, 2003
4. Three small figurines carved of ivory from mammoth tusks have been found in a cave in southwestern Germany, providing stronger evidence that human ancestors were already adept at figurative art more than 30,000 years ago, an archaeologist is reporting today. —John Noble Wilford, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2003
5. The Angels exploited center-fielder Bernie Williams's weak throwing arm in the division series against the Yankees and are adept at scampering from first to third on hits to the outfield. —Jack Curry, New York Times, 20 Oct. 2002
6. Barnum was especially adept at pulling back one curtain after another, keeping the audience in a state of panting uncertainty, perpetually postponing the revelation of what was “really” going on. —Jackson Lears, New Republic, 12 Nov. 2001

Origin of ADEPT

(see ¹adept)

First Known Use: circa 1691

Related to ADEPT

Synonyms: accomplished, ace, proficient, compleat, complete, consummate, crack, crackerjack, educated, experienced, expert, good, great, master, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), professed, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso

Antonyms: amateur, amateurish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful

Related Words: adroit, clever, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), handy, slick, sure-handed; gifted, talented; polished, refined; effective, effectual, efficient, workmanlike; able, capable, competent, employable, fit, fitted, habile, qualified; educated, knowledgeable, schooled, taught, trained, tutored; all-around (also all-round), well-rounded; long-term, old; multiskilled, multitalented

Near Antonyms: incapable, incompetent, inept, unable, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, weak; artless, crude, rude; ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient; talentless, ungifted, untalented; ignorant, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored; beginning, green, inexperienced, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be; primitive, rough, unpolished; awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed

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See Synonym Discussion at proficient