as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
skillfully guided the powerboat around the obstacles
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Recent Examples of skillfully
Either way, these are films that skillfully utilize the holiday to explore the human need for connection.
—
Kate Stroup, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
In the annals of moronic behavior, driving forty minutes out of your way in the middle of the night in order to secretly and skillfully cut down everybody’s favorite tree does not come up.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
With Australia’s Queensland coast standing in the Amazon, Gormican skillfully milks the inherent humor in the situation while also not letting the horror aspects of the original film overtake this one, at least not enough to threaten a PG-13 rating.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2025
Don’t be fooled by its modest exterior—inside, guests find some of the city’s most skillfully balanced and imaginative drinks, crafted by bartenders who speak spirits fluently.
—Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2025
And as the player progresses, the game skillfully creeps towards horror, creating a growing sense of unease as the end of summer approaches and one of the girls shows signs of an intense, potentially deadly rage she’s kept just below the surface.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Vitale’s show, with its youthful casting and racy styling, was a rare cry of sincere, skillfully made bad taste – another kind of beauty.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
The six-episode limited series skillfully blends the past and the present.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
Tonatiuh croons a few ballads, though Lopez skillfully takes on most of the heavy musical work.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
Kate Stroup, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
In the annals of moronic behavior, driving forty minutes out of your way in the middle of the night in order to secretly and skillfully cut down everybody’s favorite tree does not come up.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
With Australia’s Queensland coast standing in the Amazon, Gormican skillfully milks the inherent humor in the situation while also not letting the horror aspects of the original film overtake this one, at least not enough to threaten a PG-13 rating.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2025
Don’t be fooled by its modest exterior—inside, guests find some of the city’s most skillfully balanced and imaginative drinks, crafted by bartenders who speak spirits fluently.
—Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2025
And as the player progresses, the game skillfully creeps towards horror, creating a growing sense of unease as the end of summer approaches and one of the girls shows signs of an intense, potentially deadly rage she’s kept just below the surface.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Vitale’s show, with its youthful casting and racy styling, was a rare cry of sincere, skillfully made bad taste – another kind of beauty.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
The six-episode limited series skillfully blends the past and the present.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
Tonatiuh croons a few ballads, though Lopez skillfully takes on most of the heavy musical work.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skillfully
Adverb
-
Instead, my research documented how LBJ masterfully used the questionable attacks as a persuasively powerful pretext to convince Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by a near unanimous vote; only one senator voted against it.—
Richard Cherwitz,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
-
An early architect of the cult of celebrity, Bardot masterfully harnessed the energy of the Swinging Sixties, framing herself as a free-spirited embodiment of a changing world.—
Isobel Thompson,
Vogue,
28 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Strength, endurance, agility and mental toughness are tested in constantly changing combinations designed to reward the most well-rounded performers.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In Southern cuisine, a main dish is best complemented by a host of incredible side dishes.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
No theme rings more true than in Ariel Mahler’s short film Re-Entry, a masterclass character study that artfully weaves the tender and cerebral in a tale of reconciliation with past regrets and the overwhelming power of self-love.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
24 Dec. 2025
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Despite the rich visuals and heavy subject matter, the film itself feels subtle and restrained, the surreal plot artfully revealing itself to the viewer piece by devastating piece.—
Anastasia Sanger,
Glamour,
22 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
One of Chris Grier’s best 2025 pickups as general manager before his dismissal, Strange seized the right guard job from Kion Smith, following James Daniels’ Week 1 injury, and generally performed capably.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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The fest is now capably overseen by Nachhattar Singh Chandi, another successful businessman and longtime local who had served on the fest’s board under Matzner, with pivotal assistance from the fest’s longtime publicist and tireless champion Steven Wilson of Scenario PR.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Green expertly applies fake eyelashes, thick foundation and a dessert brown eye look, while Messina goes to work piling tight curls atop my head.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Its gentle formula expertly breaks down makeup without leaving my skin feeling dry and tight.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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The ensemble comedy garnered critical praise for its steady stream of zaniness and quickly gained a reputation for deftly skewering suburban life while still maintaining a general sweetness of tone.—
Will Harris,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Stafford has deftly utilized tight ends Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
And for looking put-together post-red-eye, the Niasso Portable Travel Steamer is $23 (originally $36) and tucks neatly into a weekender.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
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But Heberlig argued the transportation debate didn’t break down neatly along partisan lines.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skillfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skillfully. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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