PROFICIENTLY Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

proficiently

adverb

Definition of proficiently

as in masterfully

in a skillful or expert manner an administrator who can deal with the problems quickly and proficiently

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of proficiently The initiative comes as only about 35% of APS third graders are reading proficiently. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026 Nunez has heard of other writers who proficiently multitask, setting down a partial manuscript while starting another, interspersing it all with stories and essays. — Literary Hub, 14 July 2026 What Argentina don’t do particularly proficiently, for all their strengths, is offer a serious threat on the counter-attack, punishing opponents for pushing forward. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 4 July 2026 The sharpest declines were in foundational skills, with 70% of fourth-graders—at least 2 million kids—unable to read proficiently, up from 66% in 2019, and 73% of eighth-graders failing at math proficiency, compared with 67% in 2019. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 8 June 2026 These are the men and women who will steer the fate of Chicago Public Schools, helping to make decisions that affect whether CPS can get kids reading and writing proficiently and whether the district can stabilize its finances. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026 Reading outcomes also reflect these challenges; 61% of Broward third graders and 56% in Miami-Dade are reading at grade level, leaving more than 17,000 third graders across both counties not reading proficiently. — Sky Beard, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2026 In recent years, these programs have been used to process a huge volume of data far more proficiently and efficiently than scientists can manage alone. — Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026 Most elementary grades’ reading levels stayed the same from the prior year, with approximately 65% to 69% of students reading proficiently. — Shawn Datchuk, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for proficiently

Adverb

Turning for home, jockey Manny Franco masterfully guided Leading Change off the rail and into the clear outside the still leading Napoleon.

— Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Yet Parton masterfully stayed out of every fight in the culture wars, preaching love, philanthropy, mentorship and tolerance until her dying breath.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of masterfully

Adverb

The film skillfully repurposes its clips and is not above snark.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
My servers, Simon Yun and Michael Richards, skillfully handled busy dining rooms from the first seating on a Friday evening to the last seating on a Tuesday night.

— Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of skillfully

Adverb

Carrick knew, though, that his team should have managed the game better after Mbeumo’s goal.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Novo Nordisk is testing whether wastewater from pharmaceutical production can be cleaned well enough to be used again in the manufacturing process, potentially cutting the company’s water consumption by half.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of well

Adverb

This is a budget loadout, but the Intel Core i3 processor is a solid little performer that capably manages Web browsing, spreadsheets, document creation and more without breaking a sweat.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2026
Bryant capably replaced Will Campbell as the starting left tackle for one practice, and continues to be solid in 1-on-1 pass rush.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of capably

Adverb

While there are lots of things most people can competently do on their own, filing for bankruptcy is not one of them.

— Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026
Final Thoughts The Beatbot Sora 70 can competently clean your pool's floor, walls, platforms, and surface.

— John Mihaly, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of competently

Adverb

All four stars ably play the stoic and sorrowful notes required of them, without finding many secondary or contrasting ones in their dialogue.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
The kitchen is ably led by former River Café head chef Danny Bohan, whose menu draws on French and Italian culinary traditions with highlights like Dorset crab with tomatoes and aioli and sea bass carpaccio.

— Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of ably

Adverb

On the streets of New York, Zoey Deutch expertly pulled off a purple cardigan with red pants, while Dua Lipa rocked a head-to-toe Ferragamo ensemble at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, wearing a purple dress with red mules and an east-west bag.

— Elise Fabre, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2026
In no particular order, Elsinore darts in and out of various phases of Charleson’s life during this period, but Stone manages the tonal balance expertly.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of expertly

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proficient

proficiently

proficients

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“Proficiently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proficiently. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of proficiently

adverb

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