as in skillfully
in a skillful or expert manner
plays the violin masterfully, especially for a performer of her age
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Recent Examples of masterfully
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
This classic ensemble rom-com masterfully strings together a gamut of love stories — from the fairy-tale-esque to the utterly tear-jerking — all during the cheery buildup to Christmas.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
And yet, the theory goes, Kubrick had so masterfully embedded his clues in the film that some of them survived the posthumous meddling.
—Lane Brown, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
In the ongoing ideological debates between liberalism and its critics, Sunstein masterfully stakes out and defends the tradition’s high ground, a vision of liberal society equipped with a living constitution that protects the rights and dignity of individuals and the free play of ideas.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Her prose masterfully mixed humor and romance.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Not long ago, Tokarczuk sent us some remarks about a few of her favorite sci-fi and speculative-fiction writers, whose books mix the fantastical and the prosaic masterfully.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Metal tree bases are often a dead giveaway that your Douglas fir is faux, but the walled design of Anthropologie’s rattan tree skirt masterfully hides it like a holiday secret.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
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
This classic ensemble rom-com masterfully strings together a gamut of love stories — from the fairy-tale-esque to the utterly tear-jerking — all during the cheery buildup to Christmas.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
And yet, the theory goes, Kubrick had so masterfully embedded his clues in the film that some of them survived the posthumous meddling.
—Lane Brown, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
In the ongoing ideological debates between liberalism and its critics, Sunstein masterfully stakes out and defends the tradition’s high ground, a vision of liberal society equipped with a living constitution that protects the rights and dignity of individuals and the free play of ideas.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Her prose masterfully mixed humor and romance.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Not long ago, Tokarczuk sent us some remarks about a few of her favorite sci-fi and speculative-fiction writers, whose books mix the fantastical and the prosaic masterfully.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Metal tree bases are often a dead giveaway that your Douglas fir is faux, but the walled design of Anthropologie’s rattan tree skirt masterfully hides it like a holiday secret.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterfully
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
-
The economic stakes are rising as well.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
And the team has reinforced its minor league system as well by bringing in lefty Brendan Cellucci and assigning him to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The film artfully blends wacky gags and references with resonant themes that affect our world, including discrimination and unconscious bias, satisfying viewers of all ages.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Jan. 2026
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No theme rings more true than in Ariel Mahler’s short film Re-Entry, a masterclass character study that artfully weaves the tender and cerebral in a tale of reconciliation with past regrets and the overwhelming power of self-love.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
24 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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Bills quarterback Josh Allen exploited the holes in their quick pass defense expertly last week, going 12-of-14 for 134 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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Add Gigi Hadid’s suede shacket into the mix, expertly teamed up with a relaxed barrel-leg, and those winter style blues will be history.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Newsom has capably sensed what Democrats want right now, and is delivering it with a roguish charisma.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
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While Harmon has capably knocked down her midrange jumper lately, shooting guard Jordan Lee is in the midst of slump.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Dev is a Formula 1 driver and is in desperate need of a PR manager, so Willow deftly steps in.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2026
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In the example below, Matty Cash is pressed and goes long to Rogers, who, surrounded by three Tottenham players, deftly cushions the ball on his chest before flicking it back to John McGinn.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Of the many special touches, having your passport returned to your room after check-in, neatly tied with a ribbon.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Hardee’s return fits neatly into that broader narrative.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The therapist should adroitly excavate what the AI has told the client.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
But VanDerveer adroitly uses timeouts for rest breaks.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterfully. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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