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
At this point in time when AI is on the rise, there is a case for the Fed to be ably assisted by AI, if not completely replaced by it.
—
Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Can former Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton ably replace Ben Johnson as Jared Goff’s offensive coordinator?
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
Starring as Bella, Brittany Bellizeare also ably walks the tightrope by credibly portraying a fearful wife prone to bouts of hysteria in act one, to increasingly confident detective in act two.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Elsewhere on this page, Demings ably defends the county’s fiscal management.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ably
Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Can former Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton ably replace Ben Johnson as Jared Goff’s offensive coordinator?
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
Starring as Bella, Brittany Bellizeare also ably walks the tightrope by credibly portraying a fearful wife prone to bouts of hysteria in act one, to increasingly confident detective in act two.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Elsewhere on this page, Demings ably defends the county’s fiscal management.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ably
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ably
Adverb
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Pascoal performed masterfully on keyboards, saxophones, bass clarinet, accordion and an array of other instruments.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Sep. 2025
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These numbers may seem small, but their effect is profound, especially when wielded by longtime Aston design chief Marek Reichman and his team, who have masterfully created a timeless brand language that continues to evolve and feel au courant while never capitulating to trends.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
3 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Even if the free-agent linebacker addition isn’t back from a quad injury for Week 3 AFC against the Chargers, Justin Strnad filled in more than capably in Week 1, recording five tackles and a sack against Tennessee.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Netherlands international performed capably in the middle of the back three, flanked by Luke Shaw on the left and Leny Yoro to his right.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Early buzz is that Apatow skillfully navigates both the humor and the heartbreak.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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Managing conflicts skillfully today can lay the foundation for deeper resilience, better processes and more innovative thinking down the road.—
Will Fan,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Adolescence was a big winner on the night, also taking best limited series as well as Erin Doherty winning best supporting actress and Owen Cooper becoming the youngest-ever winner for best supporting actor in a limited series.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Rogen is best known for his comedy roles in Knocked-Up, Superbad, Pineapple Express, 40-Year-Old-Virgin.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Eighteen years on from her international debut in Osaka in 2007, her final bow taking place in Tokyo means Fraser-Pryce’s career is neatly bookended by World Championships in Japan.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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Solving Messy, Unclear Problems Not every challenge at work comes neatly labeled with instructions.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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The selling point of the Conjurings is that they are competently made haunted house movies that reliably feature good set pieces.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
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The canine, named Charlie, was captured competently pulling the cover off an outdoor paddling pool, all by himself while his owner was away.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Because contemporary phantoms of Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and Rolex are expertly constructed to entice even the most discerning eye, provenance is crucial.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Below, a break down of the awkward interview and how Edebiri handled it expertly.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Even as tutor modes are refined and improved, students have to actively select that mode and, for now, also have to play along, deftly providing context and guiding the chatbot away from worthless, low-level questions or sycophancy.—
Brian W. Stone,
The Conversation,
10 Sep. 2025
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The Verdict The Langham deftly balances history with relevance.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ably. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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