as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
performed the piece at least competently, if not superbly
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Recent Examples of competently
But the price tag will rise by another $10 billion, the completion date will be pushed off to 2050, and people will begin to fondly reminisce about how competently the Big Dig project was run.
—
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
And why can’t the state competently handle major tech projects?
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Nov. 2025
On the Longhorns’ lone scoring drive, Manning performs competently, but running back Quintrevion Wisner does the heavy lifting with a 37-yard run.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025
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
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
The complaints also said Streich failed to act competently, failed to return the client's property, charged unreasonable fees and provided false information to the Board of Professional Responsibility.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Aug. 2025
For example, those remote supervisors will need training, but that’s likely to be far less extensive and costly than the training required to competently fly an aircraft.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 June 2025
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
And why can’t the state competently handle major tech projects?
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Nov. 2025
On the Longhorns’ lone scoring drive, Manning performs competently, but running back Quintrevion Wisner does the heavy lifting with a 37-yard run.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025
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
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
The complaints also said Streich failed to act competently, failed to return the client's property, charged unreasonable fees and provided false information to the Board of Professional Responsibility.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Aug. 2025
For example, those remote supervisors will need training, but that’s likely to be far less extensive and costly than the training required to competently fly an aircraft.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competently
Adverb
-
Instead, my research documented how LBJ masterfully used the questionable attacks as a persuasively powerful pretext to convince Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by a near unanimous vote; only one senator voted against it.—
Richard Cherwitz,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
-
An early architect of the cult of celebrity, Bardot masterfully harnessed the energy of the Swinging Sixties, framing herself as a free-spirited embodiment of a changing world.—
Isobel Thompson,
Vogue,
28 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Either way, these are films that skillfully utilize the holiday to explore the human need for connection.—
Kate Stroup,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Dec. 2025
-
In the annals of moronic behavior, driving forty minutes out of your way in the middle of the night in order to secretly and skillfully cut down everybody’s favorite tree does not come up.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Magic Erasers work well for walls, baseboards, porcelain sinks, tubs, appliance interiors, and grout.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Just as light and breezy colors are preferred for spring and summer, warm and moody tones suit winter well, bringing a sense of cozy comfort to the home.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
One of Chris Grier’s best 2025 pickups as general manager before his dismissal, Strange seized the right guard job from Kion Smith, following James Daniels’ Week 1 injury, and generally performed capably.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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The fest is now capably overseen by Nachhattar Singh Chandi, another successful businessman and longtime local who had served on the fest’s board under Matzner, with pivotal assistance from the fest’s longtime publicist and tireless champion Steven Wilson of Scenario PR.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Over 75% of the student body at Eastway speaks a first language other than English, with many students who do not yet speak English proficiently.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In an October news release announcing the partnership, district officials said the long-term goal will focus on ensuring all students can read proficiently by third grade and pave the way for success for the rest of their academic careers.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
And not everything has to be tied up neatly in a bow.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Not all issues fit neatly into the affordability frame.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Barnes ably defended Atlanta big man Kristaps Porziņģis for a good chunk of the first half on Monday, despite playing with two fouls.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
While leaning on Robbins’ style for its dance interludes — kudos to choreographer Maija Garcia for deftly capturing his movement vocabulary and the performers for so ably executing it — the script’s structure seems more an homage to Tennessee Williams.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
20 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Cabello paired her earrings with the boots’ hardware, while expertly mixing metals, wearing gold bracelets and rings.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
In fact, Costco warehouses are expertly organized and offer a wide range of top brands, as well as their signature collection of goods under the name Kirkland Signature.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Competently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competently. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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