1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
the ice skater performed a skillful and graceful series of jumps
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skilled
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
performance testing of automobiles that should be done only by skillful drivers on a closed course
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skillful
His actors ever game and skillful would, upon Bob’s suggestions and their imaginations, would turn their bodies into the letter G or throw up their arms like the wings of a crow and open their mouths in a silent scream….
—
Jem Aswad, Variety, 18 Aug. 2025
The story follows Winston Smith, a skillful worker rewriting history in the Ministry of Truth, who starts to look back fondly on the days before the Party took over the region of Oceania and implemented their cult of personality devoid of free thought and individuality.
—Robert English, EW.com, 30 July 2025
The result is a skillful balance between dewy and glossy, blushy and gleamy.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 18 July 2025
But the game's structure also allows skillful and/or impatient players to zip to the game's conclusion quite quickly, rushing through the visually inventive bosses that guard the game's major chokepoints.
—ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for skillful
Jem Aswad, Variety, 18 Aug. 2025
The story follows Winston Smith, a skillful worker rewriting history in the Ministry of Truth, who starts to look back fondly on the days before the Party took over the region of Oceania and implemented their cult of personality devoid of free thought and individuality.
—Robert English, EW.com, 30 July 2025
The result is a skillful balance between dewy and glossy, blushy and gleamy.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 18 July 2025
But the game's structure also allows skillful and/or impatient players to zip to the game's conclusion quite quickly, rushing through the visually inventive bosses that guard the game's major chokepoints.
—ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for skillful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skillful
Adjective
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Kirk Baxter’s arrhythmic cutting is designed around quicksilver shifts that, along with Barry Ackroyd’s restlessly attentive, mostly handheld camerawork, allow Bigelow to redirect our attention with virtuoso command.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Set in 1819 Hispaniola, just prior to the Dominican Republic’s push for independence, the drama centers on an unexpected trio – a young Spanish noble, a skilled Chinese silk artisan and a Haitian soldier who’s abandoned his post.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
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Rather, the bots are skilled at mimicking human reactions to stressful situations, responding to users in ways that often reflect racist and sexist biases.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Red Bull secured its first win under the new leadership of Laurent Mekies at the Italian Grand Prix, thanks to a masterful drive from Max Verstappen.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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Understated early works such as One Man Up and the masterful Consequences of Love focus on people struggling with static lives and longing to be elsewhere.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Bilgin is clearly adept at creating beach clubs that stand out from the rest.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
5 Sep. 2025
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This toner is adept at restoring moisture post-cleanse, according to our tester, whose skin skews dry.—
Esme Benjamin,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Plus, an expert PEOPLE editor answers the burning question of the week, and one of our favorite stars joins us for a sitdown.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The big picture viewpoint is that there will be some LLMs that are less proficient in certain ways, and others that are more proficient in other ways.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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About 56% of CMS students were proficient on statewide exams this year — 3 percentage points better than last year.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Documenting that time of a young independent Africa is certainly a worthy endeavor, even though the film never discusses the artistic and moral merits of these documentaries.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
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This fall’s exhibition at the University of Minnesota’s art museum asks us to consider the rug — a functional object, a decorative object, an artistic object, a form of storytelling and cultural preservation.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Before Park came in, United had signed just two players, albeit two highly experienced Champions League individuals in Sweden’s Julia Zigiotti Olme and Fridolina Rolfo.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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But placing unfinished or untested writing in front of the eyes of other experienced and respected writers actually takes courage.—
Beverly Gologorsky
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skillful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skillful. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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