Synonym Chooser

How is the word skilled distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of skilled are adept, expert, proficient, and skillful. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

When might adept be a better fit than skilled?

The synonyms adept and skilled are sometimes interchangeable, but adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When can expert be used instead of skilled?

The meanings of expert and skilled largely overlap; however, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

When is it sensible to use proficient instead of skilled?

In some situations, the words proficient and skilled are roughly equivalent. However, proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

When could skillful be used to replace skilled?

While in some cases nearly identical to skilled, skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of skilled Politics simply move too fast for any but the most skilled screen artists to keep up. Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025 Gercke is quite skilled at building characters and writing humorous and poetic dialogue. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025 McLaren Vale is the variety’s spiritual home Down Under, with gnarly old vines and producers like Thistledown skilled at coaxing out Grenache’s plump berry, floral, and white pepper perfume and satiny texture. Christina Pickard, Bon Appétit, 5 Mar. 2025 For highly skilled job seekers, the choice is obvious. Sarah Elk, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skilled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skilled
Adjective
  • His non-fiction book The Onion Field, published in 1973, would stand as, arguably, his literary masterpiece, a skillful telling of the true tale of a 1963 kidnapping of two LAPD officers and the brutal murder of one of them.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Hackman tamped down all of his gritty charm to embody a squirrely surveillance expert, again showcasing a skillful adaptability early in his career.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In short, reviewing medical records and bills is a time-consuming, high-pressure task at which legal professionals are not adept.
    Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Companies often assume that older workers are less adept at adapting to new technologies.
    Mona Mourshed, Harvard Business Review, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 34% of eighth-grade students and 24% of twelfth-grade students are proficient in math, an essential engineering skill.
    Thomas Bostick, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Some are not proficient in English and use AI as a translator.
    Elizabeth Brown, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Australia lost experienced wing trimmer Kyle Langford to Italy, for example, and New Zealand appears to be suffering from flight controller Andy Maloney’s decision to join Brazil.
    Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Lis Anderson is founder and director at PR consultancy AMBITIOUS, an experienced agency MD with 25 years in the communications industry.
    Lis Anderson, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • All expert recommendations were derived from interviews.
    Catherine Brock, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Iran, for example, is expert at picking the winners of Iraqi elections.
    Michael Knights, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Handler proved herself a practiced hand, even if her jokes didn’t land at quite the same rate as Glaser’s.
    Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Rossdale’s ease in this environment and his practiced moves handling all manner of ingredients while wielding professional kitchen gadgets, is astounding.
    Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 13 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Skilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skilled. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on skilled

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!