workmanlike
adjective
work·man·like
ˈwərk-mən-ˌlīk 
: characterized by the skill and efficiency typical of a good workman
workmanlike thoroughness
also
: competent and skillful but not outstanding or original
an adequate … reporter who turned out workmanlike copy —
Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy Examples of workmanlike in a Sentence
He did a workmanlike job on the boat.
She showed workmanlike thoroughness in everything she did.
Recent Examples on the Web
Oasis, often workmanlike in their performances, have played the same set on every night of the Live ‘25 Tour, but no matter — each of the 23 songs landed with an ovation.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
Howard’s reputation for being a workmanlike filmmaker — solid, unflashy, without an easily noticeable personal style — proves to be stunningly effective in Frost/Nixon, where the actors and the script are the real stars.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
Lovell took a similarly easy, workmanlike approach to all four of his space missions.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Aug. 2025
Still, the play was workmanlike, and after an exciting rally to hold off set point, Sinner eventually forced a tiebreak, winning it 7-4.
—Vogue, 26 Jan. 2025
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Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
Howard’s reputation for being a workmanlike filmmaker — solid, unflashy, without an easily noticeable personal style — proves to be stunningly effective in Frost/Nixon, where the actors and the script are the real stars.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
Lovell took a similarly easy, workmanlike approach to all four of his space missions.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Aug. 2025
Still, the play was workmanlike, and after an exciting rally to hold off set point, Sinner eventually forced a tiebreak, winning it 7-4.
—Vogue, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for workmanlike
Cite this Entry
“Workmanlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workmanlike. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
workmanlike
adjective
work·man·like
ˈwərk-mən-ˌlīk
: worthy of a good worker
did a workmanlike job on the boat
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