1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
a masterly performance of one of the most difficult ballets in the repertory
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
a masterly executed somersault
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Example Sentences
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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
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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
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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
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The look was designed by Tolu Coker, a British-Nigerian designer celebrated for masterful tailoring that fuses masculine aesthetics with feminine silhouettes, brought to life through loud, vivid patterns.—
Essence,
Essence,
9 May 2025
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The Brazilian had just scored the third goal of the visitors’ masterful comeback from 2-0 down.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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The long-running film franchise first started with 1993's Sniper starring Tom Berenger as expert American gunner Thomas Beckett.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
10 May 2025
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As of Thursday, expert predictions centered on a likely reentry of Kosmos 482 early Saturday.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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Turn the transparency down a notch and the headphones are pretty adept at passing through sound otherwise.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
6 May 2025
Adverb
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Streep and Short’s characters got married in the fourth season of the murder mystery show and, in a too-sweet parallel, the two actors are rumored to be dating for real as well.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
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After more than a week of oil shooting vertically out of an unused well off the coast of Louisiana, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Sunday evening that the offshore well blowout — first reported on April 26 — has been controlled.—
Dan Ruetenik,
CBS News,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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Still, the size of the crew is less significant than the fact that their work embodies a practice—even an artistic repertory of gestures—that is visually evident even without reference to the credits.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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As the size and complexity of solar assets increased, the provision of proficient O&M and asset management services became imperative for ensuring optimal performance.—
Joern Hackbarth,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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First, is the acknowledgment by the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education (the Kirwan Commission) that, per the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) 2021 assessment, only 35% of Grade 3-8 students are proficient in English, just 15% in math.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Masterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterly. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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