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Synonym Chooser

How is the word skillful distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of skillful are adept, expert, proficient, and skilled. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

In what contexts can adept take the place of skillful?

While in some cases nearly identical to skillful, adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When is it sensible to use expert instead of skillful?

Although the words expert and skillful have much in common, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

When would proficient be a good substitute for skillful?

The synonyms proficient and skillful are sometimes interchangeable, but proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

When might skilled be a better fit than skillful?

While the synonyms skilled and skillful are close in meaning, skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

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 skillful Hiring managers must learn to distinguish between misuse and skillful application to capture a candidate’s ability to tackle real-world challenges. Bing Yu Yap, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 He is known for his skillful wedge game and a booming drive, but at Memorial Park, his whole game coalesced perfectly. Ben Morse, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025 Lamont has been a skillful steward of the state’s finances and O’Keefe seems to understand how the world works. Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2025 This skillful painting by Sophie Zhou, a junior at The Kincaid School, was sold for a record $276,000 at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's school art competition auction. Shafaq Patel, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skillful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skillful
Adjective
  • The area’s labor pool can satisfy practically any employer’s requirements, from upper management, technical and office workers to skilled employees for the production line.
    Rohit Arora, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • While patients and providers say teletherapy is effective and easier to get than in-person services, experts in the field noted that teletherapy often requires a skilled mental health practitioner trained to pick up subtle communication cues.
    Phillip Reese, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • The look was designed by Tolu Coker, a British-Nigerian designer celebrated for masterful tailoring that fuses masculine aesthetics with feminine silhouettes, brought to life through loud, vivid patterns.
    Essence, Essence, 9 May 2025
  • Draymond Green scored early and orchestrated the Warriors’ masterful defense, coach Steve Kerr adapted on the fly and Jimmy Butler led the offense down the stretch.
    Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • This approach ensures not only a solid initial return but also ongoing growth in value as your organization becomes adept at harnessing the full potential of agentic AI.
    Sanjay Gidwani, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • The Chinese have been particularly adept at securing those supply chains, Allain noted.
    Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • The long-running film franchise first started with 1993's Sniper starring Tom Berenger as expert American gunner Thomas Beckett.
    Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 10 May 2025
  • As of Thursday, expert predictions centered on a likely reentry of Kosmos 482 early Saturday.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • As the size and complexity of solar assets increased, the provision of proficient O&M and asset management services became imperative for ensuring optimal performance.
    Joern Hackbarth, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • First, is the acknowledgment by the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education (the Kirwan Commission) that, per the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) 2021 assessment, only 35% of Grade 3-8 students are proficient in English, just 15% in math.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Despite her formidable workload as Dior’s artistic director of women’s collections, Chiuri has also taken on a personal project: restoring a historic theater in her hometown.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 May 2025
  • The partners are co-developing the project with plans to lock casting and pre-production by year’s end before cameras roll in Q1 2026. MAP, established in 2015, has built an portfolio blending commercial success with artistic credibility.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • His calmness — and that of players, such as hugely experienced goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny — helps the team to keep their heads in the game on occasions.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 11 May 2025
  • The series between the Warriors and the Rockets was slow, low scoring, and ugly—which is exactly how the younger, less experienced Rockets wanted it.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • This transformation requires a delicate balancing act.
    Miles Ward, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • The walls of the rectum (the inside of your butt) are delicate.
    Alexander Cheves, Them., 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skillful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skillful. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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