as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
ably maneuvered the boat up to the dock
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ably
The exhibition still ably singles out punk artists and groups with Jewish heritage like the Patti Smith Group, Blondie, Richard Hell, the Dictators and Suicide, as well as band managers, label executives, club owners and photographers who were part of the scene.
—
Siran Babayan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Driver ably brings the heartbreak in Paper Tiger, though Johansson’s no slouch in a less ornate but no less harrowing role that involves her character having a health scare and having to develop a very different perspective on the future.
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
17 May 2026
As Harry, Northeast Minneapolis product Nick Dillenburg ably captures a man who worries his best days are behind him, while Ryan Hallahan brings a wise and wary air to Draco.
—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
After all, Denver has all five starters back from last year, is paying all of them handsomely and has built a developmental group in Palczewski, Crum and Forsyth behind that have all stepped into games ably.
—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ably
Siran Babayan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Driver ably brings the heartbreak in Paper Tiger, though Johansson’s no slouch in a less ornate but no less harrowing role that involves her character having a health scare and having to develop a very different perspective on the future.
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
17 May 2026
As Harry, Northeast Minneapolis product Nick Dillenburg ably captures a man who worries his best days are behind him, while Ryan Hallahan brings a wise and wary air to Draco.
—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
After all, Denver has all five starters back from last year, is paying all of them handsomely and has built a developmental group in Palczewski, Crum and Forsyth behind that have all stepped into games ably.
—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ably
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ably
Adverb
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While traditional tailoring and minimalist silhouettes dominated the red carpet, prospects masterfully personalized their looks.
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Son moved fast, especially up the left wing, and arced balls masterfully into the corners of the net.
Adverb
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Backed by tens of thousands of raucous fans in the Los Angeles area, Bosnia capably hung with Switzerland into the second half — until the hydration break led to a moment of brilliance from Manzambi, a 20-year-old Geneva native who plays for German club Freiburg.
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Boston College transfer Omar Thornton also is an accomplished safety, but UM used him primarily at nickel cornerback this spring, a role handled capably last season by Keionte Scott, who’s now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Adverb
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In one of prettiest team goals of this tournament, Ayase Ueda skillfully found Ritsu Doan, who threaded it to Maeda.
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The staff knows the menu and wine list back to front, and buzz around the dining room quickly and skillfully.
Adverb
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Counties weren’t named for them until well after their deaths.
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But its usefulness extends well beyond northern Italian cuisine.
Adverb
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Seated near the senators, a woman in a crisp white uniform appears to listen in, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
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Legacy is what keeps many founders going when the numbers no longer add up neatly.
Adverb
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Unless operated competently such missiles may be worse than useless.
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The real issue is whether AI is being implemented transparently, responsibly and accountably — and whether regulators themselves understand these systems well enough to govern them competently.
Adverb
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The characters have little time to make life-or-death decisions, let alone ruminate, and the action vacillates between triage and doctors expertly improvising solutions — like Mel (Taylor Dearden) donating her own blood, and Javadi (Shabana Azeez) going MacGyver mode with a tracheal tube.
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The latter sequence is edge-of-your-seat stuff, expertly shot with terrified eye-to-eye closeups.
Adverb
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Twenty years ago, Swift broke through as a rising Nashville star, before quickly, and deftly, pulling off the ultimate crossover pivot en route to becoming the biggest pop star on the planet.
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Aouar turns, sliding the ball through to Mahrez, who deftly finished past goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Cite this Entry
“Ably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ably. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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