as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
ably maneuvered the boat up to the dock
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Recent Examples of ably
It’s all done with verve and velocity, ably capturing the Looney Tunes spirit.
—
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Under normal conditions, the Palisade hybrid maneuvered through crowded streets and construction zones ably.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
Twigs ably fills the role but is not given the kind of acting showcase Cage has here.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Under normal conditions, the Palisade hybrid maneuvered through crowded streets and construction zones ably.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ably
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Under normal conditions, the Palisade hybrid maneuvered through crowded streets and construction zones ably.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
Twigs ably fills the role but is not given the kind of acting showcase Cage has here.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Under normal conditions, the Palisade hybrid maneuvered through crowded streets and construction zones ably.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ably
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ably
Adverb
-
Instead, my research documented how LBJ masterfully used the questionable attacks as a persuasively powerful pretext to convince Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by a near unanimous vote; only one senator voted against it.—
Richard Cherwitz,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
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An early architect of the cult of celebrity, Bardot masterfully harnessed the energy of the Swinging Sixties, framing herself as a free-spirited embodiment of a changing world.—
Isobel Thompson,
Vogue,
28 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Newsom has capably sensed what Democrats want right now, and is delivering it with a roguish charisma.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
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While Harmon has capably knocked down her midrange jumper lately, shooting guard Jordan Lee is in the midst of slump.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Either way, these are films that skillfully utilize the holiday to explore the human need for connection.—
Kate Stroup,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Dec. 2025
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In the annals of moronic behavior, driving forty minutes out of your way in the middle of the night in order to secretly and skillfully cut down everybody’s favorite tree does not come up.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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While flat structures work well in many systems, one-dimensional forms offer advantages in applications that require fast transport or mechanical reinforcement.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
-
If its welfare state is too cushy, or its climate policies too green – well, nobody’s perfect.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Dooley did not fit neatly into either camp.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Symmetrical Throw Pillows Having two identical pillows placed neatly on either side of a sofa is the safest—and most uninteresting—choice.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
But the price tag will rise by another $10 billion, the completion date will be pushed off to 2050, and people will begin to fondly reminisce about how competently the Big Dig project was run.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
31 Dec. 2025
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And why can’t the state competently handle major tech projects?—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
30 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
His ability to play with genre in the most unexpected way shines through in this gripping story which expertly subverts your expectations in the most thrilling and surprising way.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
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This wooden armoire makes a statement in any room while expertly disguising so much additional storage space.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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His new persona as a fighting moderate, a Democrat in tune with the country’s shifting desires and ruthless toward the man at the top, deftly speaks to the needs of a party desperate to regain the White House.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
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Perhaps the Dolphins need a new public face such as Sillman or Garfinkel, who deftly handles media sessions for F1 racing.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ably. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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