1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
the ice skater performed a skillful and graceful series of jumps
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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
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
the skillfulness with which she handled that touchy situation is indeed admirable
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skillful
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
Henry and Moura are usually yelling at each other, but the former is so good at being simultaneously exasperated and concerned, and the latter so skillful at veering between freneticism and compassion, that their antagonism always comes off as a form of love.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Newton’s jewels are alive with her mastery of design, composition, skillful use of materials, and an instinct for creating irresistible objects.
—Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
The show’s real draw is its cast, which expands to include Matthew Rhys as a troubled detective, and a skillful adaptation that highlights the glossiest, cleverest elements of classic Christie—and adds a pinch of eros.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skillful
Adjective
Who lives and who dies depends on a slew of variable factors: Where they are tried, how skillful their attorneys are, the whims of prosecutors, quirks in the law, the dispositions of judges and jurors, and what victims want.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
Henry and Moura are usually yelling at each other, but the former is so good at being simultaneously exasperated and concerned, and the latter so skillful at veering between freneticism and compassion, that their antagonism always comes off as a form of love.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Newton’s jewels are alive with her mastery of design, composition, skillful use of materials, and an instinct for creating irresistible objects.
—Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
The show’s real draw is its cast, which expands to include Matthew Rhys as a troubled detective, and a skillful adaptation that highlights the glossiest, cleverest elements of classic Christie—and adds a pinch of eros.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skillful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skillful
Adjective
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State government has made the education and training of skilled aerospace workers an important priority.—
Yogi Tharanibalan,
Hartford Courant,
3 June 2025
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The hope, Morrison said, was to encourage employers to bring in skilled workers via the permanent residency pathway, on the theory that immigrants with green cards would, by being on stronger footing, be less likely to undercut wages for Americans than guest workers did.—
Alec MacGillis,
ProPublica,
3 June 2025
Noun
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Like everyone else watching, Mascherano marveled at Messi’s skill.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2025
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Turns out that state budget surplus that Casey’s hubby has been claiming as evidence of his own special skills was propped up all along by COVID-era billions, courtesy of the smiling guy with the aviator glasses and crippling ice cream addiction.—
Pat Beall,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 June 2025
Adjective
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Colin is a masterful, soulful actor, and also an A+ human.—
Lauren LeFranc,
IndieWire,
3 June 2025
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Senior right-hander Wyatt Rudden was masterful, while the Raiders’ pitching staff — which had ace Hudson Alpert injured and used its two other top arms on Friday to advance — couldn’t hold down the Bruins’ potent lineup.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Humanoid robots are physically fluently adept before AGI is attained.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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His script may go over the top, and a generally adept cast (which also includes prominent parts for Sinbad, Rockmond Dunbar, Shalet Monique and others) copes variably with its excesses.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Consult a tax attorney or expert financial advisor for more information and tailored advice.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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Melanie also consulted Kristie Rhodes, manager of woven product development at Cotton Incorporated, for expert insight.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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By lowering expectations on state assessments, the number of students listed as below, at or above proficient could look wildly different than the scores reported by National Assessment of Educational Progress.—
Bruce Rauner,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
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What once required a team of VFX artists or at least someone proficient in After Effects can now be done by anyone with a credit card and an Internet connection.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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Managing it all behind the scenes is Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli, who served as the theater company’s director of new works for nearly a decade before taking on the artistic director role in 2023.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
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Hailing from Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel creator Sherman-Palladino, Étoile starred Luke Kirby (who played Lenny Bruce on Mrs. Maisel) as Jack McMillan, the artistic director of a prestigious New York ballet company.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Its ambitious and abstract first act is the section best left experienced without fully revealing what’s happening.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
4 June 2025
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Acknowledging the importance of having an experienced caddie in situations like this and having recently lost his own, Homa reached out to one of the best available options.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skillful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skillful. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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