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

Either way, these ancient humans were skilled foragers and hunter-gatherers who lived in small groups of perhaps a dozen people and only rarely crossed paths with other bands. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 10 Dec. 2025

Needless to say, fewer international students today can mean fewer skilled workers in sectors like tech, healthcare, and engineering tomorrow. —Bjorn Markeson, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025

Imposing tariffs raises costs for airlines and travelers, disrupts supply chains and undermines exports that support hundreds of thousands of skilled workers. —Daniel Elwell, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025

The visas are reserved for highly skilled foreign workers. —Arielle Zionts, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025

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