skill

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun skill contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of skill are artifice, art, craft, and cunning. While all these words mean "the faculty of executing well what one has devised," skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency.

the skill of a glassblower

When could art be used to replace skill?

While in some cases nearly identical to skill, art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power.

the art of choosing the right word

In what contexts can artifice take the place of skill?

While the synonyms artifice and skill are close in meaning, artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature.

believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice

When might craft be a better fit than skill?

The words craft and skill can be used in similar contexts, but craft may imply expertness in workmanship.

the craft of a master goldsmith

When is cunning a more appropriate choice than skill?

The synonyms cunning and skill are sometimes interchangeable, but cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing.

a mystery plotted with great cunning

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 skill Character progression is primarily handled through a persistent skill tree, crafting, and looting. Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025 Ever since, Swifties and bakers alike have embraced the singer's sourdough skills. Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025 Users on the platform loved the pup and his unusual skill. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 National and international organizations publish AI literacy frameworks claiming to know what skills students need for their future. Justin Reich, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skill
Noun
  • Securities litigation expertise to frame loss causation and materiality arguments.
    Tim Reynolds, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Everyday investors should avoid trading Apple stock like that, Jim said, given the expertise required to time the market correctly on the way out and on the way back in — not to mention any capital gains taxes.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Federico Marchetti, the Italian fashion entrepreneur, is a master of sprezzatura—the courtier’s art of cloaking ambition and cunning in an air of guileless nonchalance.
    John Seabrook, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • But Israeli cunning, buoyed by remarkable intelligence capabilities and precision targeting, has damaged the group.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The two-hour experience includes bourbon samples, a cocktail, and the use of paranormal investigation tools.
    Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Dale has state government, education, radio and television experience as well.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There has been proficiency in the final third, too.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • And Michigan's third grade reading scores have been stubborn, with the proportion of students scoring proficient or higher declining significantly from 2016 to 2025, from 46% of third graders at or above proficiency a decade ago to 39% on the test this spring.
    Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Perfect for showcasing small art pieces and mementos in the living room, fine china in the dining room, or books in a home office, the classic geometric cupboard compliments the decor inside of it.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Head to the Museum of the Cherokee People to explore exhibits that chronicle the history, heritage, and arts of the region’s earliest inhabitants.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Now, Khalid is telling People that being outed, and subsequently being open about his queerness, has had a huge mark on his artistry.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 6 Oct. 2025
  • This evening reflects the culmination of many years of artistry and friendship, reflected in her support for his new creative chapter at Balenciaga.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That reputation doesn’t come from talent alone.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
  • That Tigers staff would turn out to be one of the best collections of coaching talent in recent college football history, producing four more future head coaches.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skill. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on skill

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