ABLY Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

ably

adverb

ˈā-b(ə-)lē

Definition of ably

as in masterfully

in a skillful or expert manner ably maneuvered the boat up to the dock

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 ably England's squad is spearheaded by Harry Kane, who is ably supported by the likes of Reece James, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Anthony Gordon. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 17 June 2026 As the slightly more sensible Tess, Ginger Minj is the glue of the production, ably carrying the heavy burden of turning the very silly storyline into something broadly coherent. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 9 June 2026 The Whitecaps ably replaced four players – three sidelined by injury — who made large contributions to the playoff win. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2026 Marianna Gailus and Sepideh Moafi (The Pitt) ably perform the others, but Jackman is stunning as a man failing to balance love and lust. — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for ably

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ably

Adverb

Turning for home, jockey Manny Franco masterfully guided Leading Change off the rail and into the clear outside the still leading Napoleon.

— Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Yet Parton masterfully stayed out of every fight in the culture wars, preaching love, philanthropy, mentorship and tolerance until her dying breath.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of masterfully

Adverb

Bryant capably replaced Will Campbell as the starting left tackle for one practice, and continues to be solid in 1-on-1 pass rush.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
His professional background is in private equity, and LAFC, the team he's been with since its founding in 2014, which is widely regarded as one of the most capably run franchises in MLS.

— Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of capably

Adverb

The film skillfully repurposes its clips and is not above snark.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
My servers, Simon Yun and Michael Richards, skillfully handled busy dining rooms from the first seating on a Friday evening to the last seating on a Tuesday night.

— Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of skillfully

Adverb

Carrick knew, though, that his team should have managed the game better after Mbeumo’s goal.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Novo Nordisk is testing whether wastewater from pharmaceutical production can be cleaned well enough to be used again in the manufacturing process, potentially cutting the company’s water consumption by half.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of well

Adverb

While there are lots of things most people can competently do on their own, filing for bankruptcy is not one of them.

— Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026
Final Thoughts The Beatbot Sora 70 can competently clean your pool's floor, walls, platforms, and surface.

— John Mihaly, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of competently

Adverb

In the clip, Lee expertly beats on a bongo while Limbani responds with eager rhythmic dancing.

— Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, and Jordan Peele have expertly played with audience expectations, delivering edge-of-your-seat experiences that keep audiences coming back for more.

— Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of expertly

Adverb

The third-year quarterback has deftly handled the pressure from Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In a variation on her character from Parasite, Cho deftly underplays Yi-je’s insensitivity as another woman projecting a blithe lack of awareness of her privilege.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of deftly

Browse Nearby Words

abluted

ably

abnegate

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ably. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of ably

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

magnanimous

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes