Synonym Chooser

How is the word skilled distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of skilled are adept, expert, proficient, and skillful. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

When might adept be a better fit than skilled?

The synonyms adept and skilled are sometimes interchangeable, but adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When can expert be used instead of skilled?

The meanings of expert and skilled largely overlap; however, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

When is it sensible to use proficient instead of skilled?

In some situations, the words proficient and skilled are roughly equivalent. However, proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

When could skillful be used to replace skilled?

While in some cases nearly identical to skilled, skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

Examples of skilled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Press play above to see what happens when human lie detector meets skilled liar. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 21 Oct. 2024 In industries such as marketing, banking, and healthcare, where AI is becoming increasingly integrated, the need for skilled professionals is acute. Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024 In contrast to ethnic Koreans from China and former Soviet republics, who are increasingly being called upon to provide cheap labor for declining industries like manufacturing, Korean Americans are being recruited by companies and universities as skilled workers and students with a Western cachet. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 Lyndi is creative beyond writing and is skilled in painting, drawing and sculpture. Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for skilled 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'skilled.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near skilled

Cite this Entry

“Skilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skilled. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on skilled

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