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
Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
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
The first sixty pages provide a masterly chronological overview of the Peasants’ War.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masterly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterly
Adjective
-
Six points clear of Manchester City and Villa, Arsenal can boast form and — for the first time in a while — fitness, with Declan Rice marking his return to the lineup with a virtuoso two-goal display against Bournemouth.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
That was a virtuoso performance.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
1 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The 5-11, 187-pound receiver is skillful at running routes and can create separation with his quick feet.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Mackey does especially skillful work conveying the legibility of Ella’s personal anxiety and political passion.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
10 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Instead, my research documented how LBJ masterfully used the questionable attacks as a persuasively powerful pretext to convince Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by a near unanimous vote; only one senator voted against it.—
Richard Cherwitz,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
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An early architect of the cult of celebrity, Bardot masterfully harnessed the energy of the Swinging Sixties, framing herself as a free-spirited embodiment of a changing world.—
Isobel Thompson,
Vogue,
28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Keilty, who has been preaching defense since the moment he was hired over the offseason, orchestrated a masterful plan to prevent Masco from getting second-chance scoring opportunities, or, for that matter, open looks.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
White had a masterful game in his first game as a full-time starter since earlier in the year.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The shift toward high-skilled gig work is a response to a volatile labor market where even professional skills aren’t enough to ensure a worker’s job security.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
13 Jan. 2026
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Ensure a steady pipeline of skilled workers who are capable of navigating challenges and changing market conditions — driving innovation and maintaining organizational stability.—
Karen Hinds,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Either way, these are films that skillfully utilize the holiday to explore the human need for connection.—
Kate Stroup,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Dec. 2025
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In the annals of moronic behavior, driving forty minutes out of your way in the middle of the night in order to secretly and skillfully cut down everybody’s favorite tree does not come up.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Ahead, discover the best beanies for women, chosen as a fashion writer of over 10 years, along with expert advice on caring for and styling your new topper.—
Alison Syrett Cleary,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
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De Laurentiis took all the chaos in stride and was the expert judge for the cooking portion of the outrageous lineup of competitions.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
So our agents are very adept at dealing with this.—
Esme Murphy,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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But therein lies the challenge for Paramount and reflects Netflix’s adept strategic maneuvering.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterly. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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