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expert

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adjective

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an expert fisherman
an experienced fisherman
a pro fisherman
an excellent fisherman
an accomplished fisherman
a skilled fisherman
an expert doctor
an exceptional doctor
a knowledgeable doctor
a smart doctor
a specialized doctor
a superb doctor
an expert author
a professional author
an advanced author
a premier author
an esteemed author
a proficient author
an expert individual
an elite individual
an exceptional individual
an exemplary individual
an extraordinary individual
a special individual
an expert critic
a qualified critic
a superior critic
an elite critic
a senior critic
an official critic

Synonym Chooser

How is the word expert distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

expert in the evaluation of wines

In what contexts can adept take the place of expert?

The words adept and expert are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When is proficient a more appropriate choice than expert?

While the synonyms proficient and expert are close in meaning, proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

When could skilled be used to replace expert?

Although the words skilled and expert have much in common, skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

When is it sensible to use skillful instead of expert?

In some situations, the words skillful and expert are roughly equivalent. 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 expert
Noun
Legal experts are handing Karen Read's defense team the win for Friday's heated cross-examination of Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2025 But about a quarter of women in the U.S. are behind on such screenings, and medical experts say reducing that is key to the ultimate goal of eliminating cervical cancer. Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 10 May 2025
Adjective
Transform your outdoor space from a run-of-the-mill lawn to an oasis fit for summer entertaining with these expert ideas and updates. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2025 Look forward to more interviews with C-suite executives, more expert perspectives on the most pressing, up-to-date problems facing leaders, and some special surprises for HBR subscribers. Harvard Business Review, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expert
Noun
  • Weiss said some scholars believe the prophecy was written in support of a cardinal who was campaigning to be the next pope.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • Although the origins of the doctrine remain in some dispute, most scholars cite its first mention in ancient Roman law.
    Alexandra Klass, The Conversation, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • The area’s labor pool can satisfy practically any employer’s requirements, from upper management, technical and office workers to skilled employees for the production line.
    Rohit Arora, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • While patients and providers say teletherapy is effective and easier to get than in-person services, experts in the field noted that teletherapy often requires a skilled mental health practitioner trained to pick up subtle communication cues.
    Phillip Reese, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Padova, his university city, is 20 kilometers from the floating city, and his masters thesis focused on subsidence in Venice.
    Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • Jackson Simmonds, a master colorist and stylist in New York City, is the first to recommend at-home solutions that will keep his color clients covered (literally) for a bit longer between their visits to his chair.
    Jenny Berg, Allure, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Newton’s jewels are alive with her mastery of design, composition, skillful use of materials, and an instinct for creating irresistible objects.
    Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The show’s real draw is its cast, which expands to include Matthew Rhys as a troubled detective, and a skillful adaptation that highlights the glossiest, cleverest elements of classic Christie—and adds a pinch of eros.
    Judy Berman, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This approach ensures not only a solid initial return but also ongoing growth in value as your organization becomes adept at harnessing the full potential of agentic AI.
    Sanjay Gidwani, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Turn the transparency down a notch and the headphones are pretty adept at passing through sound otherwise.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • Here’s what those LinkedIn gurus aren't telling you.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
  • John, a club and restaurant owner known around town as a nightlife guru, has rights to the land for up to 100 years under the comprehensive agreement.
    Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • Despite her formidable workload as Dior’s artistic director of women’s collections, Chiuri has also taken on a personal project: restoring a historic theater in her hometown.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 May 2025
  • The partners are co-developing the project with plans to lock casting and pre-production by year’s end before cameras roll in Q1 2026. MAP, established in 2015, has built an portfolio blending commercial success with artistic credibility.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Being a manager requires being proficient at many skills, and with this incident, Snitker failed at all of them.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Less than half of the city’s public school students are proficient readers.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expert. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

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