Synonym Chooser

How does the noun art contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of art are artifice, craft, cunning, and skill. While all these words mean "the faculty of executing well what one has devised," art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power.

the art of choosing the right word

Where would artifice be a reasonable alternative to art?

While the synonyms artifice and art are close in meaning, artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature.

believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice

When is it sensible to use craft instead of art?

In some situations, the words craft and art are roughly equivalent. However, craft may imply expertness in workmanship.

the craft of a master goldsmith

When could cunning be used to replace art?

The words cunning and art can be used in similar contexts, but cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing.

a mystery plotted with great cunning

When might skill be a better fit than art?

The meanings of skill and art largely overlap; however, skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency.

the skill of a glassblower

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of art Many vendors are returnees to Kansas City art fairs. Ramal Nasim, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025 Guests also can explore cultural displays and interactive exhibits and experience free henna art. Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025 Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group celebrates 40 years of defying reality, defining entertainment, and illuminating the world through art and creativity. Jane Levere, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 My grandmother was born in Mexico, and my mom always had that type of art in our house. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for art
Recent Examples of Synonyms for art
Noun
  • For a player with loud talents, a magnetic personality and a soaring public profile, Crow-Armstrong very much appreciates his craft and enjoys the grind.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 15 June 2025
  • What did the patterns symbolize and what variations of the craft existed in different regions?
    Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
Noun
  • Additional songs teach kids the days of the week and the importance of washing your hands—now those are the kids of practical life skills wrapped up in an entertaining package both parents and kids can appreciate.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 13 June 2025
  • Both coaches, who have been in Stanley Cup Finals before and in hockey their whole lives, remarked on the pace, physicality, the quality of hockey from board battles to open ice skill plays.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • But Cate mentioned obvious areas of interest such as housing, infrastructure, regulations, taxes and fees, trade and the overall cost of living.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, the administration is negotiating a trade deal with the European Union, the United States’ largest trading partner.
    Ted Tucker, National Review, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • The space is thoughtfully curated with local handicrafts like Thai kites and pottery, warm textures, and views over a private lagoon.
    Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
  • Her first creations, a diamond necklace and earrings in a fan motif, referenced her family’s roots in eastern Nigeria, where making fans, especially in raffia and leather, is a traditional handicraft.
    Victoria Gomelsky, New York Times, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Art.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/art. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on art

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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