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
Jeanne Allen, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Mice also are incredibly proficient at reproducing: Gestation takes just a few weeks, with six to 12 pups per litter and up to eight litters per year.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
No matter how proficient Ivey becomes behind the arc, his instinctual downhill scoring capability will always keep defenders on their toes.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Among students who are poor enough to qualify for free lunch, less than 1 in 5 are proficient.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for proficient
Adjective
Yet the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveals that 69% of eighth graders are not proficient in reading, and 73% are not proficient in math.
—Jeanne Allen, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Mice also are incredibly proficient at reproducing: Gestation takes just a few weeks, with six to 12 pups per litter and up to eight litters per year.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
No matter how proficient Ivey becomes behind the arc, his instinctual downhill scoring capability will always keep defenders on their toes.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Among students who are poor enough to qualify for free lunch, less than 1 in 5 are proficient.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for proficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proficient
Adjective
-
Sallis enters the professional ranks as a skilled guard with a smooth mid-range game, defensive versatility, room to grow as a shooter and playmaker and potential to develop in an NBA organization.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
27 June 2025
-
Medicaid also funds the majority of long-term care for seniors in skilled nursing facilities.—
Pia Valvassori,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2025
Noun
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The digital adept also had a nearly eight-year stretch at Teen Vogue.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
-
Slot shares this staple of Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou’s attacking principles, with Porro adept at tucking inside to disrupt the opposition shape.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Finnegans Wake, in his skillful hands, is a tapestry of all the works Joyce ever wrote, the final and protracted project of a writer who could never stop thinking about Ireland.—
Eric Bulson,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2025
-
Their smart, aggressive defense disorients even the smoothest spacing and the most skillful shooters.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
There are a few items our experts say are acceptable to hang up or place on a drying rack to dry naturally instead of tossing in the dryer.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
-
Although state wildlife agencies and experts have noted that black bear attacks remain extremely rare, interactions in recent years have drawn national attention.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Today someone older or more experienced might have advice for you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
27 June 2025
-
When unusual circumstances arise, experienced loan officers should make the calls.—
Ashish Garg,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Twelve percent have master’s degrees or higher, compared with 14% nationally.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 June 2025
-
The Skokie native works at Google and recently graduated from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management with a master’s degree in business administration, according to her campaign.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
The author is not the first scholar to tackle the history of America—as in the American continent, not just the United States (which keeps trying to hoard the name for itself).—
Carolina A. Miranda,
The Atlantic,
30 June 2025
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The festival also offers performances by local dance or music groups, lectures by Shakespeare scholars and food offerings from Tom’s Travelin’ Coffee Truck or OneSong Biscotti.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
He’s been a glamorous Visual Kei rock star, a classical composer, a virtuoso behind the drum kit, a producer and label owner and entrepreneur, and now, more than ever, an impresario.—
Steve Appleford,
Variety,
17 June 2025
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Little Feat, the archetypal ’70s band originally formed by Lowell George — a guitar virtuoso fired from the Mothers of Invention by Frank Zappa — has survived years of breakups, drug problems and even George’s untimely death in 1979.—
Dave Brooks,
Billboard,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proficient. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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