skilled

adjective

ˈskild 

1

: having acquired mastery of or skill in something (such as a technique or a trade)

skilled in the art of negotiation

2

: of, relating to, or requiring workers or labor with skill and training in a particular occupation, craft, or trade

Synonyms of skilled

• proficient
• adept
• experienced
• expert
• talented
• skillful

Choose the Right Synonym for skilled

proficient, adept, skilled, skillful, expert mean having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession.

proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

Examples of skilled in a Sentence

a very skilled and talented writer

He is skilled at cooking.

Carpentry is a skilled trade.

Recent Examples on the Web

Revitalizing domestic manufacturing requires treating capacity, skilled labor, quality systems and cyber readiness as strategic infrastructure. — Rush Laselle, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Many of those skilled workers live in the United Arab Emirates, which hired large numbers of local engineers during the build-out of its Barakah Nuclear Plant over the last decade. — Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 20 July 2026

Nearly half of Venezuela’s doctors, and many health professionals and other skilled workers — including 200,000 teachers — left the country as the economy fell apart. — Mark Weisbrot, Twin Cities, 19 July 2026

Meanwhile, demand for workers in occupations facing the largest shortages, from skilled trades to certain healthcare roles, is only going to grow. — Svenja Gudell, Fortune, 18 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for skilled

• backfilled
• distilled
• fulfilled
• infilled
• instilled
• rebuild
• refilled
• unfilled
• unskilled
• untilled
• billed
• build

Kids Definition

skilled

adjective

ˈskild 

1

: having skill : expert

skilled workers

2

: requiring skill and training

a skilled trade