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Synonym Chooser

How is the word skillful distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of skillful are adept, expert, proficient, and skilled. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

In what contexts can adept take the place of skillful?

While in some cases nearly identical to skillful, adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When is it sensible to use expert instead of skillful?

Although the words expert and skillful have much in common, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

When would proficient be a good substitute for skillful?

The synonyms proficient and skillful are sometimes interchangeable, but proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

When might skilled be a better fit than skillful?

While the synonyms skilled and skillful are close in meaning, skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

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 skillful His actors ever game and skillful would, upon Bob’s suggestions and their imaginations, would turn their bodies into the letter G or throw up their arms like the wings of a crow and open their mouths in a silent scream…. Jem Aswad, Variety, 18 Aug. 2025 The story follows Winston Smith, a skillful worker rewriting history in the Ministry of Truth, who starts to look back fondly on the days before the Party took over the region of Oceania and implemented their cult of personality devoid of free thought and individuality. Robert English, EW.com, 30 July 2025 The result is a skillful balance between dewy and glossy, blushy and gleamy. Annie Blackman, Allure, 18 July 2025 But the game's structure also allows skillful and/or impatient players to zip to the game's conclusion quite quickly, rushing through the visually inventive bosses that guard the game's major chokepoints. ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for skillful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skillful
Adjective
  • Kirk Baxter’s arrhythmic cutting is designed around quicksilver shifts that, along with Barry Ackroyd’s restlessly attentive, mostly handheld camerawork, allow Bigelow to redirect our attention with virtuoso command.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • While Philadelphia does have another highly-skilled receiver in DeVonta Smith, this stack still has the potential to carry any fantasy team in 2025.
    Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The film follows skilled martial artist Wang Wei, whose daughter Rainy is abducted by a child trafficking ring.
    Sara Merican, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • While Mike Kroeger selects unusual colored gemstones and diamonds of superb quality, Angela’s masterful carving skills create incomparably beautiful and precise designs.
    Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • These no-bake treats are an easy way to impress for novice and masterful bakers alike heading to a tailgate.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Bilgin is clearly adept at creating beach clubs that stand out from the rest.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2025
  • This toner is adept at restoring moisture post-cleanse, according to our tester, whose skin skews dry.
    Esme Benjamin, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Plus, an expert PEOPLE editor answers the burning question of the week, and one of our favorite stars joins us for a sitdown.
    Staff Author, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The big picture viewpoint is that there will be some LLMs that are less proficient in certain ways, and others that are more proficient in other ways.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • About 56% of CMS students were proficient on statewide exams this year — 3 percentage points better than last year.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Documenting that time of a young independent Africa is certainly a worthy endeavor, even though the film never discusses the artistic and moral merits of these documentaries.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
  • This fall’s exhibition at the University of Minnesota’s art museum asks us to consider the rug — a functional object, a decorative object, an artistic object, a form of storytelling and cultural preservation.
    Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Before Park came in, United had signed just two players, albeit two highly experienced Champions League individuals in Sweden’s Julia Zigiotti Olme and Fridolina Rolfo.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • But placing unfinished or untested writing in front of the eyes of other experienced and respected writers actually takes courage.
    Beverly Gologorsky September 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skillful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skillful. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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