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Prowess is a word with a lot to be proud of. Not only has it performed gallantly for the English language since the 13th century, but it has stayed relatively stalwart in hewing to its original meaning, which is quite a flex. When prowess first joined the ranks of the lexicon, it could be used to refer to bravery, skill, and valor—especially those virtues as encountered in military contexts—or to individual acts of derring-do. The latter was usually used in the plural, as when people waxed rhapsodic about the “prowesses” of knights or some such. Today’s “extraordinary ability” meaning, which developed in the 17th century, tends to stick to the singular form, as when it’s used to describe those with intellectual prowess, or to someone known for their prowess as a fundraiser.
Synonyms
Examples of prowess in a Sentence
Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
For all her prowess, Yeoh hasn’t been able to make the character Philippa Georgiou work.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
In my view as a scholar of race and professional sports, the firings revealed the NFL’s double standard for Black head coaches and suggest that Black men are still valued more for their athletic prowess than their leadership skills.
—Joseph N. Cooper, The Conversation, 7 Feb. 2025
His academic achievements were complemented by his athletic prowess, competing in football and track and field, throwing the javelin.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for prowess 
Dictionary Entries Near prowess
Cite this Entry
“Prowess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prowess. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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prowess
noun
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