as in skilled
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
she is quite proficient at computer repair a proficient rendition of a difficult piano piece
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in adept
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
an urgent call by the state department for proficients in Arabic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of proficient
Carson Swick, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2025
In 2024, only 9% of Hispanic students in Denver schools were proficient in eighth grade math.
—Yesenia Robles, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2025
Students who score basic are able to demonstrate some rudimentary skills, but aren’t advanced enough to be considered proficient.
—Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2025
And in eighth grade, a mere 31 percent were deemed proficient.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proficient
Adjective
According to the data, 34% of students statewide were proficient in fourth grade reading, 33% in eighth grade reading, 37% in fourth grade math, and 25% in eighth grade math.
—Carson Swick, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2025
In 2024, only 9% of Hispanic students in Denver schools were proficient in eighth grade math.
—Yesenia Robles, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2025
Students who score basic are able to demonstrate some rudimentary skills, but aren’t advanced enough to be considered proficient.
—Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2025
And in eighth grade, a mere 31 percent were deemed proficient.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proficient
Adjective
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The best communicators are not just skilled speakers but also active listeners who understand the deeper layers of interaction.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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For those keeping track, her character – a highly skilled assassin – was a fundamental part of the superhero team known as the Avengers who gave her life in order to procure an Infinity Stone which ultimately defeated extraterrestrial supervillain Thanos and saved the universe.—
Dan Heching,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Around him, dense as a swarm of tiny insects, float tiny images of fellow adepts engaged in all manner of outré shenanigans.—
Holland Cotter,
New York Times,
26 Dec. 2024
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Naomi Goggin Switch to island time—and expect transportation snafus Even with two planners, and a bride adept at project management, there was one logistical hurdle that was tough to cross: local transportation.—
Kaitlin Menza,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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His non-fiction book The Onion Field, published in 1973, would stand as, arguably, his literary masterpiece, a skillful telling of the true tale of a 1963 kidnapping of two LAPD officers and the brutal murder of one of them.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2025
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Hackman tamped down all of his gritty charm to embody a squirrely surveillance expert, again showcasing a skillful adaptability early in his career.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Unlike consulting, where an expert provides recommendations, coaching ensures that leaders develop the capability to solve problems independently and sustain long-term growth.—
Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Immigration law experts spoke with NPR about the case and why Khalil's status as a green card holder is significant.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Australia lost experienced wing trimmer Kyle Langford to Italy, for example, and New Zealand appears to be suffering from flight controller Andy Maloney’s decision to join Brazil.—
Andrew Rice,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
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Onishi served as a commercial pilot in Japan, flying Boeing 767 jetliners, and Peskov is an experienced commercial 757 pilot.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Every master craftsman had their own tools – often specialized and always prized possessions handed down from generation to generation.—
John Sviokla,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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With no masters of the technique in Mexico, ASMA is teaching themselves the techniques from books.—
Shanti Escalante-De Mattei,
ARTnews.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Legal scholars question what will happen to the Fed if the Supreme Court says independent agencies are unconstitutional.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2025
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The Department Of Education Is Already Being Dismantled, Impacting Student Loan Operations Most legal scholars agree that Trump cannot simply eliminate the Department of Education through executive action.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Starr is also accompanied by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Brenda Lee (whose career predates the Beatles) and contemporary bluegrass virtuoso Tuttle.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
5 Mar. 2025
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They are joined by Hawaiian slack key guitar virtuoso Stephen Inglis.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proficient. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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