1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
a masterly performance of one of the most difficult ballets in the repertory
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of masterly
Phillipa Gregory, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
The masterly second installment of Wolf Hall retails permanent lessons in power.
—Martha Bayles, National Review, 17 Apr. 2025
Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026
At times, Davis is a masterly nocturne painter, in the vein of Whistler and Henry Ossawa Tanner; at others, his world is medicinally clear and well lit, like that of a Thomas Eakins.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for masterly
Adjective
Wolf Hall is the first — and my favorite — of the masterly trilogy which follows the rise of Thomas Crowell, advisor to Henry VIII.
—Phillipa Gregory, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
The masterly second installment of Wolf Hall retails permanent lessons in power.
—Martha Bayles, National Review, 17 Apr. 2025
Adverb
At age 31, chef de cuisine at the restaurant Alain Ducasse (at the Essex House hotel in New York City), one of the city's finest establishments, Didier is a masterly cook with a rigorous classical training.
—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026
At times, Davis is a masterly nocturne painter, in the vein of Whistler and Henry Ossawa Tanner; at others, his world is medicinally clear and well lit, like that of a Thomas Eakins.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for masterly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterly
Adjective
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A lot of the movie feels like a virtuoso chase sequence, people barreling down the road, guns blazing.—
Joshua Rothkopf,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
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The teacher was Orlandi himself, both an authority on the history of the instrument and a virtuoso performer.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This country has produced leaders who understood that the office was never about them, that service means something, and that the people watching from home deserve better than a system that rewards the skillful exit over the honest reckoning.—
Nick Weston,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
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Miami coach Mario Cristobal is known for his skillful recruiting of top prospects.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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With stories focused on surviving rowdy family, moments of loneliness, struggles with faith, and navigating our deepest human relationships, Johnson’s abilities as a pensive storyteller are conducted masterfully.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
22 May 2026
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Amusingly, the immensely powerful, magical object is treated with nonchalance by the New Age store employees, the tone masterfully shifting from comedy sketch to disturbing horror.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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This masterful drama retells the chain of events that led to the downfall of President Richard Nixon through the vantage point of the journalists who broke the story.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
23 May 2026
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And the Royals didn’t look back as Kolek put the finishing touches on his masterful start.—
Jaylon Thompson
May 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
The strongest properties employ skilled, adaptive practitioners who adjust to the guest in front of them rather than march through a rigid itinerary — wellness, the experts argue, should feel intuitive rather than prescriptive.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2026
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Jobs requiring technically skilled professionals also tend to offer greater stability than many other roles due to high demand for specialized expertise, according to research from LiveCareer.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adverb
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In any case, preventing such an outcome has less to do with the size of America’s munitions stockpile than with coming up with a realistic strategy that skillfully mixes diplomacy, economic statecraft, strong alliances, and a capable military focused on defense rather than global interventionism.—
William Hartung,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
On the Senate floor, they can be seen skillfully maneuvering around lawmakers, stenotype machines hanging from their necks.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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Maldives has extensive water safety protocols and expert divers, Shareef said, noting the archipelago’s ocean territory is around 3,000 times larger than its landmass.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
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For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Become adept at framing the work in terms of outcomes that matter to stakeholders.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
The host was particularly adept at engaging his guests in authentic conversations about grief, such as when Andrew Garfield spoke about the recent death of his mother, or Colbert appeared as the interviewee on CNN to discuss it with Anderson Cooper.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterly. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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