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
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
There are states that confer ownership of property after many years of a steward ably working the land.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
The Poland international stepped in ably when Gabriel was ruled out in April, and barely put a foot wrong in big games such as the two-legged ties against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ably
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
There are states that confer ownership of property after many years of a steward ably working the land.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
The Poland international stepped in ably when Gabriel was ruled out in April, and barely put a foot wrong in big games such as the two-legged ties against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ably
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ably
Adverb
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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
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The Zone of Interest Jonathan Glazer's unsettling historical drama masterfully employs sound — which earned it an Oscar in 2024 — and what remains unseen to depict the horrors of the Holocaust.—
Charlotte Walsh,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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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
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Rocky capably steps up to Washington’s loose but intense actorly flow, and contributes a great song too.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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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
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Hill and Giler skillfully avoid virtually every sports movie cliché while still delivering the genre’s rousing satisfactions — this is a spectacularly fun movie in spite of its often grim subject matter.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
1 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Miller often called well into the evening, Dudek said, to chastise him about anything the press had reported that day that had caught the administration off guard.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
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Natural fabrics like cotton and wool, however, are best left to the pros.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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This little case keeps rings, necklaces, and earrings neatly tucked away, so nothing gets tangled—or worse, left behind.—
Kayla Kitts,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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Despite the glossy subject matter, Winocour neatly sidesteps clichés, instead searching for quiet moments that give the story emotional resonance.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
5 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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That opened up a shooting chance, which Wolff finished expertly.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
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This pattern was expertly observed by Amorim during his first press conference.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Riefenstahl deftly undertakes the type of media autopsy usually reserved for the most fiendish of true crime cover-ups.—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
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And the film turns into a deftly layered and at moments nearly philosophical head-spinner.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ably. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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