1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
a masterly performance of one of the most difficult ballets in the repertory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skillful
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
a masterly handling of a complex topic in philosophy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
a masterly executed somersault
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 masterly
Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2019
His accent was unaccented, and his biking around the city was masterly.
—Hannah Whitaker, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024
His handling of her final moments, ultimately placing her calmly sitting on the edge of the stage, is masterly.
—David Benedict, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The scene offered a preview of how perfectly Tennant’s Doctor would embody the duality of this hero through his three-plus seasons in the TARDIS — a masterly balance of stillness and chatter, heft and levity.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for masterly
Adjective
The authors of this concise and masterly introduction to the topic go some way toward filling that gap.
—Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2019
His accent was unaccented, and his biking around the city was masterly.
—Hannah Whitaker, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024
His handling of her final moments, ultimately placing her calmly sitting on the edge of the stage, is masterly.
—David Benedict, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The scene offered a preview of how perfectly Tennant’s Doctor would embody the duality of this hero through his three-plus seasons in the TARDIS — a masterly balance of stillness and chatter, heft and levity.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for masterly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterly
Adjective
-
That compromise seemed either an example of the military’s skillful navigation of a polarizing topic—the naming of military posts and ships—or trolling.—
Anna Mulrine Grobe,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 June 2025
-
Love, the film suggests, has always been a strategic, material affair, a matter of skillful hunting and gathering.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Under a masterful ride from jockey Frankie Dettori, Raging Torrent simply ran them off their feet and rolled home two and a half lengths to the good.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
Latour was masterful in the pitching circle, twirling a complete-game shutout while scattering four hits and striking out eight in a 4-0 win for D-R. Latour came through at the plate, too, notching two hits and an RBI.—
Greg Dudek,
Boston Herald,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
These eagles are skilled soarers, often riding thermal updrafts to reach extreme heights.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
-
The skilled crafts that underpin entertainment are also at risk of being lost, says David Offenberg, an entertainment finance professor at Loyola Marymount University.—
Ali Martin,
Christian Science Monitor,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
While Bruce impressed on his Major League debut with his expert bat retrieval skills, the Nationals couldn’t get the job done against the Marlins.—
Thomas Schlachter,
CNN Money,
14 June 2025
-
Both leaders trusted their instincts, dismissing expert consensus even as the evidence — and human consequences — contradicted them.—
Robert Pearl,
Twin Cities,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
China has also been adept at dominating supply chains from beginning to end.—
Caitlin Babcock,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 June 2025
-
The sophisticated cybercriminals who design these counterfeit websites are also adept at manipulating the algorithms that determine a high position in a search engine search.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Adverb
-
While Chelsea will be more on the defensive, advance with a draw as well, ES Tunis can only advance with a maximum point effort.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
-
This placed the series in the top 10 new series debuts in the U.S. in particular and was at one point No. 1 on Prime Video in the United States as well.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Mueller serves as the artistic director of the Film Art Research Centre at Shanghai University.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 June 2025
-
And of course, there’s plenty of room for artistic impression.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Yet the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveals that 69% of eighth graders are not proficient in reading, and 73% are not proficient in math.—
Jeanne Allen,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
Mice also are incredibly proficient at reproducing: Gestation takes just a few weeks, with six to 12 pups per litter and up to eight litters per year.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Masterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterly. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share