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
-
While flat structures work well in many systems, one-dimensional forms offer advantages in applications that require fast transport or mechanical reinforcement.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
-
If its welfare state is too cushy, or its climate policies too green – well, nobody’s perfect.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The film artfully blends wacky gags and references with resonant themes that affect our world, including discrimination and unconscious bias, satisfying viewers of all ages.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Jan. 2026
-
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
Adverb
-
Newsom has capably sensed what Democrats want right now, and is delivering it with a roguish charisma.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
-
While Harmon has capably knocked down her midrange jumper lately, shooting guard Jordan Lee is in the midst of slump.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Bills quarterback Josh Allen exploited the holes in their quick pass defense expertly last week, going 12-of-14 for 134 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Add Gigi Hadid’s suede shacket into the mix, expertly teamed up with a relaxed barrel-leg, and those winter style blues will be history.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
His new persona as a fighting moderate, a Democrat in tune with the country’s shifting desires and ruthless toward the man at the top, deftly speaks to the needs of a party desperate to regain the White House.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Perhaps the Dolphins need a new public face such as Sillman or Garfinkel, who deftly handles media sessions for F1 racing.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Dooley did not fit neatly into either camp.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Symmetrical Throw Pillows Having two identical pillows placed neatly on either side of a sofa is the safest—and most uninteresting—choice.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skillfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skillfully. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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