artfully

adverb

Definition of artfullynext
as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner the sushi chef artfully filleted the salmon

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 artfully Room service is spectacular—impeccably delivered and artfully plated, best enjoyed from your private terrace overlooking the lake. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 Johnny Moreno’s video and projection design artfully augments the production’s imaginative world. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 While the new episodes don’t offer quite the same depth of character or adrenaline rush as the original, the show remains a sharply observed, virtuosically acted, and artfully shot study of human behavior at its ugliest. — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026 The result is a bed that looks tidy and composed rather than slept-in—artfully arranged, and frankly, a little pleased with its own posture. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026 The new owner, Jasen Mark, snapped it up four years ago, then spent $8 million to turn a rundown resort into a new five-star property that artfully straddles modern amenities and a nostalgic embrace of simpler times. — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026 Co-directed by the singer, the clip was artfully shot and empathetically told, and got fans sufficiently invested that Kiyoko eventually published a YA novel expanding the adventures of its young lovers, Coley and Sonya. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 June 2026 Go back and rewatch how meticulously and artfully Spielberg introduces Mark Rylance's character at the beginning of the film. — Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026 Expecting a romantic interlude, he is horrified to find Jenny’s lifeless body artfully arranged on the bed. — ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artfully
  1. masterfully
  2. skillfully
  3. well
  4. neatly
  5. expertly
  6. deftly
  7. capably
Adverb
  • While traditional tailoring and minimalist silhouettes dominated the red carpet, prospects masterfully personalized their looks.
    — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Son moved fast, especially up the left wing, and arced balls masterfully into the corners of the net.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
Definition of masterfully
Adverb
  • Dolin skillfully weaves these accounts and other materials into a compelling narrative.
    — Terry W. Hartle, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026
  • None wielded that weapon more skillfully than the victims and enemies of slavery.
    — Brian DeLay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Definition of skillfully
Adverb
  • The best way to maximise corners then is variety and tweaking existing approaches, which several teams have done well at this World Cup.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The Hawks downed the Celtics 102-90, putting up their most well-rounded offensive outing.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of well
Adverb
  • Eyebrows were lightly brushed up and tapered neatly, while her eyes were free of mascara or shading.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 July 2026
  • The Hillsborough meteorite doesn't fit neatly into either category.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of neatly
Adverb
  • After an initial flurry, Yanez expertly countered, dropping the former champion with precise right hands.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
  • The wood frame is expertly crafted, handpainted, and kiln-dried to prevent splitting, cracking, or developing mildew.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2026
Definition of expertly
Adverb
  • But its ability to tolerate discomfort is its strength, particularly through its most original figure—Dahl’s friend and publisher Tom Maschler, deftly portrayed by Elliot Levey.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
  • The Dodgers responded in the top of the 11th with a great defensive play from a pitcher of their own, as Edgardo Henriquez deftly snagged a comebacker and began an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play.
    — Kyle Glaser, Oc Register, 7 July 2026
Definition of deftly
Adverb
  • Directed by brothers Drew and Eric Dowdle, who capably remade REC (2007) as Quarantine (2008), The Poughkeepsie Tapes makes up for its occasional lapses in realism with its utterly disturbing portrayal of pure evil.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, a flashback, set vaguely in the Before Times, presents a girl playing with the ragdoll Jessie, a cowgirl and aspirant sheriff, voiced enthusiastically and most capably by Joan Cusack.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2026
Definition of capably

Browse Nearby Words

artful
artfully
artfulness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Artfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artfully. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All