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adept

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word adept distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of adept are expert, proficient, skilled, and skillful. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When is it sensible to use expert instead of adept?

While in some cases nearly identical to adept, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

When is proficient a more appropriate choice than adept?

In some situations, the words proficient and adept are roughly equivalent. However, proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

In what contexts can skilled take the place of adept?

The words skilled and adept can be used in similar contexts, but skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

When might skillful be a better fit than adept?

The meanings of skillful and adept largely overlap; however, skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

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 adept
Adjective
The rotation, though, was never quite adept in that area at any point in the year. Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 The creative is adept at multitasking. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
The result is that just these English words, representing just this original document, make for a new and somewhat undiscovered book, even to Marxist adepts. Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 The younger Aes Sedai adept is busy learning the ways of walking in Tel’aran’rhiod, the dreamworld overlaid atop the real one and parallel to the regular, non-magical dreams most people experience. Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for adept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adept
Adjective
  • After inadvertently amassing a network of specialized experts, the startup has pivoted to hiring highly skilled professionals to train AI models.
    Jaures Yip, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Greenlight Alberta, which its creators say is the first of its kind in Canada, will see local professionals trained in key production roles, as an answer to the growing demand for skilled crew across the country.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Still, experts like Taylor note that companies’ own financial interests may bring some of that into question.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The Jays are entering the series against the Dodgers as underdogs according to baseball experts and betting odds.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Baltimore’s game against the Chicago Bears saw the return of full-back Patrick Ricard on offense – a key component in their usually-proficient running game – as well as star linebacker Roquan Smith and starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie all taking to the field.
    Ben Morse, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Over 60% of third graders did not score proficient on the state's 2025 M-STEP assessment.
    Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • He was enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies, but currently does not have lawful status in the country, officials said.
    Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
  • That’s cute, today’s masters of the universe will chuckle while patting your head.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The skillful craftsmanship of the artists is amazing, and the story is also great.
    Billboard Japan, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Sarandos, who in shaping the era’s most successful Big Tech entrant to Hollywood has always been a skillful communicator, gave a telling answer.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Defense Priorities scholars argue that the cartels are being falsely equated with terrorist groups like Al Qaeda, and warn of mission creep without clear objectives or legal justification.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • That call is all too real, according to Stephen Schwartz, an independent scholar who has extensively researched the history of America's nuclear command systems.
    Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The greatest concern is for new controllers who might make less than $50,000, but even experienced controllers who make well over six figures while working six days a week may be living paycheck to paycheck without much cushion in their budgets.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Even with three young pitchers in Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean, the Mets will be adding more experienced starting pitchers.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Palamides, as a physical-comedy virtuoso, loves mess—there’s a splash zone near the front, with audience members wearing plastic ponchos.
    Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
  • D’Angelo was raised in a deeply religious Pentecostal family and got his musical start in the church, becoming a virtuoso at several instruments.
    Andrew R. Chow, Time, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Adept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adept. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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