Definition of penmanshipnext
1
as in handwriting
the form or style of a particular person's writing doctors are famous for their illegible penmanship

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2
as in calligraphy
writing done by hand the students spend far more time honing their computer skills than they do improving their penmanship

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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 penmanship The phonograph didn’t suffer from poor penmanship. IEEE Spectrum, 6 Jan. 2026 The boy had an army of private tutors, for Latin, Italian, French, Yiddish, Hebrew, English, ancient philosophy, history, geography, drawing, penmanship, and music. Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025 Isaiah Falls, Karri, kwn, Destin Conrad and Nippa are each pushing the sound in their own lane, building momentum through personality and penmanship. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025 His first full-length album, Illmatic, was an evolution in hip-hop lyricism, and his top-tier penmanship has powered a catalog of 17 solo albums. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for penmanship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penmanship
Noun
  • Between the many ceasefires, extensions and delays, the handwriting is on the wall.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
  • The study also did not account for the participants' use of medications, which could potentially impact both handwriting and brain function.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Kyoto calligraphy is often paired with tea ceremonies.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
  • As preschoolers dance, paint and play inside a Sunset Park daycare center, seniors sing traditional Chinese opera, exercise and practice calligraphy just one block away.
    Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 22 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Penmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penmanship. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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