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
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
States have since haltingly rolled out standards for history education, but after 30 years of reform, students’ performance on history exams has slightly declined—just 14 percent are rated proficient.
—
Yoni Appelbaum,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
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
Thomas’ lack of strength kept him from being a proficient finisher around the rim as well as a limited perimeter defender.
—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
States have since haltingly rolled out standards for history education, but after 30 years of reform, students’ performance on history exams has slightly declined—just 14 percent are rated proficient.
—
Yoni Appelbaum,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
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
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Blending ego and empathy, Chung delivered a skilled performance that may well win over Emmy voters in the supporting actor (drama) category this cycle.
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In addition to being a great student, Maddie is a skilled softball player, which her mom Jamie Lynn bragged about in May 2022.
Noun
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Legislative expert and law professor Chris Micheli said lawmakers frequently include controversial provisions in bills during the early stages of the legislative process.
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Given the significance of the peace deal, experts said Pakistan will certainly want to leverage its mediation role for economic benefit, particularly in its dealings with allies in Washington and the Gulf.
Adjective
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In many species, the males are just as adept at parenting as the females.
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The hardworking staff are some of the city's most adept at the timing of courses.
Noun
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Owing to lengthy maturation cycles, these inaugural releases are rums influenced by the craft and stewardship of three generations of Mount Gay master blenders.
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But according to master distiller Brent Elliott, this cask finishing project started well before either of those things were a reality.
Adjective
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What followed in the 20th minute, though, is the kind of end-to-end attack that is the hallmark of the American game, with a skillful finish that is decidedly uncommon from a USA star.
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The remarks not only referred to the aesthetics of the game – tedious matches devoid of skillful merit that were unpleasing to watch.
Noun
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It was rediscovered in the late 1990s, but was forgotten again until scholars and advocates pushed for its preservation years later, according to the association.
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But the outcome, according to scholars, is a clearer, tighter, and more defensible argument.
Adjective
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From congested lines for TSA screenings to ever-changing departure times and hard-to-find gates, airports can trip up even the most experienced travelers.
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Detaille argues that the next wave of premium storytelling could come from pairing online-native creators with experienced film and television writers, producers and executives.
Noun
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He was widely celebrated as a virtuoso who nurtured America’s economic well-being and whose nearly every utterance was parsed for clues as to where interest rates, the economy and the financial markets might be headed.
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The German drum virtuoso wasn’t deeply familiar with the band’s repertoire when Lee and Lifeson first brought her to Toronto to jam.
Cite this Entry
“Proficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proficient. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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