masterful
adjective
Masterful vs. Masterly: Usage Guide
Some commentators insist that use of masterful should be limited to its early "domineering" sense in order to preserve a distinction between it and masterly. The distinction is a modern one, excogitated by a 20th century pundit in disregard of the history of the word. Both words developed in a parallel manner but the earlier sense of masterly, equivalent to the "domineering" sense of masterful, dropped out of use. Since masterly had but one sense, the pundit opined that it would be tidy if masterful were likewise limited to one sense and he forthwith condemned use of masterful to mean "having mastery" as an error. This later sense of masterful, which is slightly older than the sense of masterly intended to replace it, has continued in reputable use all along; it cannot rationally be called an error.
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Some commentators insist that masterful must only mean "domineering," reserving the "expert, skillful" sense for masterly. The distinction is a modern one. In earlier times, the terms were used interchangeably, with each having both the "domineering" and "expert" senses. The "domineering" sense of masterly fell into disuse around the 18th century, however, and in the 20th century the famous grammarian H. W. Fowler decided that masterful should be similarly limited to a single meaning. He summarily ruled that the "expert" definition of masterful was incorrect. Other usage writers followed his lead. But the "expert" meaning of masterful has continued to flourish in standard prose in spite of the disapproval, and, considering the sense's long history, it cannot really be called an error.
Examples of masterful in a Sentence
Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Known for his signature visual style and masterful tension-building in crime stories, Kim now turns his lens to the glamorous yet cutthroat world of K-Pop, exploring the fierce desires and ambitions that drive it.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 July 2025
The film touches on Buckley’s childhood, his prominence in New York’s avant-garde downtown scene in the early 1990s, and his rise to fame with the release of his masterful 1994 debut—and only studio album—Grace.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 16 July 2025
As for the flip-flop trend, the second part of Carpenter’s masterful styling equation, some of summer’s most popular styles have been elevated through subtle height boosts in the form of kitten heels or platforms and jelly-sandal hybrids that unleash hearty doses of Y2K nostalgia.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for masterful
Cite this Entry
“Masterful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masterful. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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masterful
adjective
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