Synonym Chooser

How is the word skilled distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of skilled are adept, expert, proficient, and skillful. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

When might adept be a better fit than skilled?

The synonyms adept and skilled are sometimes interchangeable, but adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When can expert be used instead of skilled?

The meanings of expert and skilled largely overlap; however, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

When is it sensible to use proficient instead of skilled?

In some situations, the words proficient and skilled are roughly equivalent. However, proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

When could skillful be used to replace skilled?

While in some cases nearly identical to skilled, skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

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 skilled Like Keaton, Hepburn oozed effervescence, supremely skilled at both comedy and drama. Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025 Michigan thrives on a bruising run game that’s among the best in the conference in terms of yards per game, while USC has a skilled, explosive offense led by one of the nation’s best passers in Jayden Maiava. Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025 The challenge is to become as skilled and cerebral as possible, preferably while the elite athleticism is still present. Tony Jones, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 Hedrick is a highly skilled mercenary who trades in exactly these kinds of secrets — staging elaborate near-death experiences to get powerful people to unknowingly confess to theirs. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skilled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skilled
Adjective
  • Both are already reasonably proficient in this area.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
  • So, the pilots need to be proficient at air-to-air refueling, a difficult task with a plane the size of a commercial jetliner like the E-3.
    Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Cooper as an actor has always been adept at comedy, and here in the standard best friend supporting role, exhibits again some exquisite timing, as does the wonderful Day, who memorably nails her all too brief few scenes.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement Much like Anderson does, Aster also juxtaposes the ineptitude of his white protagonist with an adept person of color.
    Robert Daniels, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Among his critiques was that the Fed had grown too big and experienced mission creep.
    Steve Liesman, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The stars that form gather material from everything, cumulatively, that all of the different particles that form them experienced.
    Big Think, Big Think, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Welcome to the Week 6 fantasy cheat sheet, a one-stop shop for The Athletic’s game previews, injury and weather updates, and expert analysis.
    Jess Bryant, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Hess helmed the first film, which stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa and follows a group of misfits who are pulled through a portal into a cubic world and guided by an expert crafter named Steve (played by Black).
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But the numbers suggest that having a too-talented running back room is possible.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
  • After all — just like in 1975 — Mizzou has a talented running back who could very well put up serious yardage Saturday.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ragnar is one of the very best Nordic crime writers, as skillful in thrillers like this series as in murder mystery stories.
    Anders de la Motte, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Setting boundaries requires a balance of self-awareness and skillful communication.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For an extra-inventive twist, Brazilian designer Lucas Simões recently unveiled the Colendra chair, a wild, sculptural example of metalworking that combines an irreverent sensibility with practiced craft.
    Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2025
  • To the practiced eyes of some observers, there are obvious clues that AI was used to produce the video.
    Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skilled. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on skilled

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