as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
an administrator who can deal with the problems quickly and proficiently
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Recent Examples of proficiently
There are two elements to DeLauter’s swing, Fink said, that make something that looks so unorthodox work so proficiently.
—
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Students who are not reading proficiently by third grade are far less likely to graduate from high school, and more likely to wind up incarcerated.
—Daniel L Gordon, Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
All three of her children are now reading proficiently and practice their skills every night.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
Perhaps the most controversial policy is holding back third graders who cannot read proficiently.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 14 Jan. 2026
Over 75% of the student body at Eastway speaks a first language other than English, with many students who do not yet speak English proficiently.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2025
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Students who are not reading proficiently by third grade are far less likely to graduate from high school, and more likely to wind up incarcerated.
—Daniel L Gordon, Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
All three of her children are now reading proficiently and practice their skills every night.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
Perhaps the most controversial policy is holding back third graders who cannot read proficiently.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 14 Jan. 2026
Over 75% of the student body at Eastway speaks a first language other than English, with many students who do not yet speak English proficiently.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proficiently
Adverb
-
Nurse Dana—competent, underpaid, indispensable, and increasingly aware of her own leverage—isn’t a supporting character, as masterfully played by the Emmy-winning Katherine LaNasa.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
This contemporary-style home masterfully bridges the indoor and outdoor living experiences.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
And Fitzgerald, coming off a magnificent six-interception freshman season, can play nickel skillfully if needed.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Don’t be fooled by its modest exterior—inside, guests find some of the city’s most skillfully balanced and imaginative drinks, crafted by bartenders who speak spirits fluently.—
Kat Stinson,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Berea College, in Kentucky, is probably the most well known of these institutions.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Hot sleepers know the feeling of tossing, turning, and sweating through too-warm bedding especially well, but the proper seasonal bedding can eliminate this issue.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
After all, those are spots capably filled by, in order, Justin Herbert, Cameron Dicker, JK Scott and Josh Harris.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Morgan Stanley, led by CEO Ted Pick since 2024, appears to have capably navigated the tumult of the first quarter, which saw rolling corrections in software stocks and the upheaval caused by the Iran war.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Outlays old and new need to be justified and competently managed.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Outlays old and new need to be justified and competently managed.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
California politics rarely works that neatly.—
Matt Klink,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Those two goals didn’t always fit neatly together.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
After all, Denver has all five starters back from last year, is paying all of them handsomely and has built a developmental group in Palczewski, Crum and Forsyth behind that have all stepped into games ably.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
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Saturday’s second episode, for which ratings dipped slightly, featured a cold open roasting the former Prince Andrew and was ably steered by host Jamie Dornan, who appeared in sketches including a horror comedy about Jools Holland.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Electric Bleu is a testament to the reality that food can be technically precise and expertly executed, without the pretension and toxicity so often associated with fine dining kitchens.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
All of it is paired expertly with wines from the 15,000-strong cellar.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Proficiently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proficiently. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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