COMPETENTLY Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

competently

adverb

Definition of competently

as in masterfully

in a skillful or expert manner performed the piece at least competently, if not superbly

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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 competently Nor does Moshe appear a natural action director, as the setpieces here are just competently staged rather than harrowing, and overall tension goes slack on occasion. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 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 Unless operated competently such missiles may be worse than useless. — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 The real issue is whether AI is being implemented transparently, responsibly and accountably — and whether regulators themselves understand these systems well enough to govern them competently. — Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2026 Mark Beare, head of consumer business at cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes, also notes that employees would need to have confidence that an AI agent responding to coworkers and clients on their behalf can be counted on to act competently and professionally. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 8 June 2026 Why can’t San Francisco’s officials competently replace its trash cans? — Steven Greenhut, Washington Post, 6 May 2026 Outlays old and new need to be justified and competently managed. — Editorial, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for competently

Adverb

The Soundcore Select 4 Go pairs an adventure-proof IP67 design with exceptional 20-hour battery life masterfully.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of masterfully

Adverb

Jay has always skillfully folded each turn into his larger mythology, going from drug dealer to rapper to label boss to executive with an air of inevitability, every choice subsumed into the glory of the hustle.

— Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
These nine classics skillfully keep audiences guessing while depicting different kinds of waking nightmares, making the protagonists’ traumas our own for a few entertaining hours.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of skillfully

Adverb

The Lake of Dreams show still feels like an oddly charming fever dream—projections, puppetry, and music best experienced from SW, Lakeside, or the aft-deck fantasy bar literally called Aft.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
Thanks to its premium plant-wax blend and 100 percent natural-fiber wick, the best-selling candle burns cleanly and evenly for up to 150 hours.

— Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of well

Adverb

And there was also a favorable response on Saturday to Amazon/MGM’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, an action-thriller led capably by Mahershala Ali.

— Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026
This is a budget loadout, but the Intel Core i3 processor is a solid little performer that capably manages Web browsing, spreadsheets, document creation and more without breaking a sweat.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of capably

Adverb

Buzzard is in exceptional shape for his age, with teammate Max Thomas noticing his ability to keep up proficiently during team sprints.

— Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026
The initiative comes as only about 35% of APS third graders are reading proficiently.

— Jamal Goss, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of proficiently

Adverb

Whole lives are neatly bound in tidy language, conveyed within the confines of a page or two.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Payment Availability Is Expanding With Digital Commerce Business activity does not always fit neatly inside traditional banking hours.

— Karen Koehler, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of neatly

Adverb

Zeller sets this up ably by incorporating the sledgehammer blows of the builder hired by Toby into percussive passages of Volker Bertelmann’s ominous score.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
All four stars ably play the stoic and sorrowful notes required of them, without finding many secondary or contrasting ones in their dialogue.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of ably

Adverb

In other cases, people can still walk along Roman routes, such as the Appian Way, which features some of the original volcanic stones that the Romans expertly laid.

— Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
And a stellar Paulson expertly exudes snide arrogance, until Sandra breaks open entirely.

— Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of expertly

Browse Nearby Words

competent

competently

competes

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“Competently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competently. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of competently

adverb

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