1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
a masterful performance of a difficult piece for the violin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
a masterful coworker who liked to tell other people how to do their jobs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
a masterful businesswoman who didn't hesitate to step on a lot of people as she climbed the ladder of success
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in skillful
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
a president who was celebrated as a masterful communicator of his administration's policies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
the sheer masterfulness of the thieves' plan could not be denied, even by the police
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims
the shameless masterfulness that invested his every move was positively galling to his colleagues
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of masterful
Natalia Cano, Billboard, 11 July 2025
But Woo’s masterful performance was not enough for Seattle.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Instead, Netanyahu, who is seen as a masterful politician by friends and foes alike, is expected to thread the needle.
—Joseph Krauss, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
At Somni, amid the parade of courses, there’s beautiful plating and masterful technique: In one dish, a healthy quenelle of caviar is perched upon an impossibly light dashi meringue shaped like a fish.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for masterful
Adjective
In the track, performed with the masterful voice that characterized him, the artist paints a portrait of male vulnerability, showing a man overcome by a feeling that overwhelms him entirely.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 11 July 2025
But Woo’s masterful performance was not enough for Seattle.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Instead, Netanyahu, who is seen as a masterful politician by friends and foes alike, is expected to thread the needle.
—Joseph Krauss, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
At Somni, amid the parade of courses, there’s beautiful plating and masterful technique: In one dish, a healthy quenelle of caviar is perched upon an impossibly light dashi meringue shaped like a fish.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for masterful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterful
Adjective
-
While Western democracies debate environmental reviews and grid reliability, authoritarian systems can rapidly direct energy flows to computing infrastructure.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
North Korea is under sanctions from the United States — as well as the United Nations and several other countries — largely in response to the isolated authoritarian state's weapons programs.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to Sandler, the 2025 film also sees the return of several familiar faces, including Julie Bowen as Happy’s love interest, Virginia Venit; Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin, Happy’s arrogant nemesis; and Ben Stiller as Hal L., the orderly from Happy’s grandmother’s nursing home.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Christopher McDonald plays Happy’s comically villainous, arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, maestro of the finger guns.—
Skyler Trepel,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
The result is a skillful balance between dewy and glossy, blushy and gleamy.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
18 July 2025
-
But despite those skillful trappings, the story soon feels ponderous.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Project Runway might've returned with a new roster of designers flexing their fashion skills on the main stage, but one contestant's emotions unspooled in front of the judges when he was placed in the bottom.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Sports captivates communities because achievement in sports—especially team sports—requires more than just talent, effort and skill.—
George Atallah,
Sportico.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
The sweeping track was inspired in part by Rebecca Solnit’s 2014 collection Men Explain Things to Me, with the titular essay providing a scathing look at male arrogance and how conversations between men and women go awry.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
16 July 2025
-
But nothing in his tenure captures all at once the sense of arrogance, tone-deafness to the concerns of Floridians and obsession with keeping secrets.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
The plaintiffs are also asking Battaglia to strike the testimony of the county’s expert six witnesses.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 July 2025
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Following the hollowing-out of the nation’s scientific infrastructure through deep funding cuts and the firing of federal scientists, the executive order is an attempt to rewrite the rules of how our expert bureaucracy operates.—
David Michaels,
The Atlantic,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
Avoid being domineering, but also avoid being stepped on by someone else.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 July 2025
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My Mom Died is a heartbreaking and hilarious recounting of McCurdy’s struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother.—
Charley Ross,
Glamour,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Chicago Cubs have been passed up by the Milwaukee Brewers for the National League Central lead, and that's due to the Brewers' superior pitching staff.—
Hunter Mulholland,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
-
As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks provided superior returns with lower risk compared to the benchmark index; a smoother journey, as evidenced in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Masterful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterful. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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