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 expert
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
Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025
The Panthers’ passing offense isn’t proficient enough to stay consistently competitive with competent opponents when Carolina gets down big.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
Arlyssa D. Becenti, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Hispanic kids were likewise lagging the state average, 37% proficient in English and 30% in mathematics.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proficient
Adjective
Over 60% of third graders did not score proficient on the state's 2025 M-STEP assessment.
—Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025
The Panthers’ passing offense isn’t proficient enough to stay consistently competitive with competent opponents when Carolina gets down big.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
The Ganado Unified School District saw a 159 percent increase in students who tested proficient.
—Arlyssa D. Becenti, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Hispanic kids were likewise lagging the state average, 37% proficient in English and 30% in mathematics.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proficient
Adjective
-
No army in history seemed ever to have been more ragged and motley and mongrel and polyglot than the Continental, rich and poor, learned and illiterate, from boys to old men, skilled and unskilled, born all over the world, speaking dozens of languages, believing in different gods and in no god.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
China is increasingly leading the US as the center of global research, and cuts and restrictions on skilled migration are hampering Washington’s fightback.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Another factor may be Japan’s demographic shift, experts say.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Philip Mann, an aviation expert and former Federal Aviation Administration training manager, said smaller airports not on the list could also see delays and cancelations.—
Laura Layden,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Beath attempted to get the adept electrician to comment on the crash.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
This year, job advertisements have been soaring for a new specialist software developer who can write code, but also is adept at talking to customers.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Joining them were a who’s who of rock acts, playing for free, paying homage to the original masters of metal, the likes of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Alice in Chains.—
Stephen Rea,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
-
For him, that included college and a master’s degree.—
Chris Dovi,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Kayla Poirier didn’t get the glory that comes associated with scoring a goal, but without a couple skillful touches by the senior, Mahtomedi would no longer have a chance to repeat as state champions.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The skillful craftsmanship of the artists is amazing, and the story is also great.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Media studies scholar Stephen Ponder argues that William McKinley, inaugurated as president in 1897, laid the groundwork for Roosevelt’s later efforts to fully bring the press into the White House.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
-
And labor scholar Hamilton Nolan reminds us to breathe, and take the (rare) win.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Italy’s squad in 1934 had been extremely experienced; Pozzo knew that there would have to be a complete overhaul for 1938.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Wisconsin lawmakers are considering a bill to allow experienced physician assistants to practice independently.—
Jessie Opoien,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Within the special, Erivo will perform a song accompanied by Goldblum, a virtuoso jazz pianist in his own right, while Yang, Bode, and Slater will perform a song together.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Palamides, as a physical-comedy virtuoso, loves mess—there’s a splash zone near the front, with audience members wearing plastic ponchos.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proficient. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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