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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skillful
The invader is a skillful art restorer, Lori Butler (Michaela Coel), who’s been hired by Julian’s greedy children, Barnaby (James Corden) and Sallie (Jessica Gunning), to work, or pose, as their father’s new assistant.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Literary style and themes Critics have praised French’s novels for their vivid settings, psychologically nuanced characters, and skillful dialogue.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Newport’s skillful direction drives the more than 3½-hour play (including two intermissions), making every minute count.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Finnish native Margareta Martin brought enthusiasm and skillful organizing following a move to Atlanta, a dynamic that helped establish a wide variety of cultural, business, artistic and culinary links between the Nordic world and here.
—Mark Woolsey, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skillful
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Literary style and themes Critics have praised French’s novels for their vivid settings, psychologically nuanced characters, and skillful dialogue.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Newport’s skillful direction drives the more than 3½-hour play (including two intermissions), making every minute count.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Finnish native Margareta Martin brought enthusiasm and skillful organizing following a move to Atlanta, a dynamic that helped establish a wide variety of cultural, business, artistic and culinary links between the Nordic world and here.
—Mark Woolsey, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skillful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skillful
Adjective
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A lot of the movie feels like a virtuoso chase sequence, people barreling down the road, guns blazing.—
Joshua Rothkopf,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
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The teacher was Orlandi himself, both an authority on the history of the instrument and a virtuoso performer.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The strongest properties employ skilled, adaptive practitioners who adjust to the guest in front of them rather than march through a rigid itinerary — wellness, the experts argue, should feel intuitive rather than prescriptive.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2026
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Jobs requiring technically skilled professionals also tend to offer greater stability than many other roles due to high demand for specialized expertise, according to research from LiveCareer.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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This masterful drama retells the chain of events that led to the downfall of President Richard Nixon through the vantage point of the journalists who broke the story.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
23 May 2026
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And the Royals didn’t look back as Kolek put the finishing touches on his masterful start.—
Jaylon Thompson
May 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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Become adept at framing the work in terms of outcomes that matter to stakeholders.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
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The host was particularly adept at engaging his guests in authentic conversations about grief, such as when Andrew Garfield spoke about the recent death of his mother, or Colbert appeared as the interviewee on CNN to discuss it with Anderson Cooper.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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Maldives has extensive water safety protocols and expert divers, Shareef said, noting the archipelago’s ocean territory is around 3,000 times larger than its landmass.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
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For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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The sophomore midfielder can pass and score with either foot and is equally proficient at playing offense or defense.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
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Lacking any sort of thematic heft to make the proceedings truly spooky, proficient helmer Ovredal mainly relies on a series of jump scares, complete with sudden loud noises, to keep us on edge.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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Pasricha’s wife Eiesha Pasricha is the de facto artistic director of the brand, also personally curating the retail at Gleneagles and the shop at Estelle Manor.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
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His work reflects a broader shift within the luxury car market, where personalization and artistic storytelling have become as valuable as engineering pedigree.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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In either case, less experienced users are likely to consider the behavior the result of a nuisance bug and have no idea their device is compromised.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
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The seas were rough and the wind was picking up late Thursday morning when a team of five experienced Italian divers plunged toward these pitch-black caverns off the Vaavu Atoll, about an hour south by speedboat of the capital Malé.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skillful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skillful. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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