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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
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
The authors of this concise and masterly introduction to the topic go some way toward filling that gap.
—Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for masterly
Adjective
Here and elsewhere, the intermingling of voices and instruments is masterly.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
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
The authors of this concise and masterly introduction to the topic go some way toward filling that gap.
—Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for masterly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterly
Adjective
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Kirk Baxter’s arrhythmic cutting is designed around quicksilver shifts that, along with Barry Ackroyd’s restlessly attentive, mostly handheld camerawork, allow Bigelow to redirect our attention with virtuoso command.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ragnar is one of the very best Nordic crime writers, as skillful in thrillers like this series as in murder mystery stories.—
Anders de la Motte,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
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Setting boundaries requires a balance of self-awareness and skillful communication.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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There are multiple styles too, like those in which the handles swapped leather for shiny metals, adding a contemporary twist and masterfully pairing with the models’ midi skirts, playful outerwear clad in primary colors, and preppy tailoring.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
30 Sep. 2025
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The collector sought letters, manuscripts and research by Turner's predecessors, contemporaries, champions and even an art student who could masterfully copy his pieces.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Their streets are lined with lush trees and their Victorian homes are like doll houses, painted in pastels and boasting masterful woodwork that draws crowds of admirers.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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As with earlier films such as Fire at Sea and Notturno, Gianfranco Rosi’s latest work is a masterful act of cinematic immersion.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Can Skjei, who’s skilled but had a nightmare first season in Nashville, bounce back?—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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But in addition to his reputation as a womanizer, Casanova was also a con man, a skilled liar who came from a family of actors and who over the course of his life manipulated and tricked countless people to maintain wealth and status.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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At Alexander McQueen, Seán McGirr presented one of the favorite collections of the season, skillfully creating a beautiful collection.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
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Auloea Portable Mini Car Vacuum Cleaner Tackling messes in the car isn’t always easy—awkward spaces and small nooks and crannies skillfully hide dirt, debris, and more that are nearly invisible to the naked eye.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With the technology becoming increasingly adept at creating convincing crowd scenes, manipulating visuals has never been easier.—
Chloe Veltman,
NPR,
3 Oct. 2025
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Both Reinsve and Skarsgård give towering performances that will not be denied at Oscar time (for Best Actress and Supporting Actor, respectively), given that Neon, which bought the film at Cannes 2024 before production, is adept at playing the awards game.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Masterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterly. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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