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Synonym Chooser

How is the word skillful distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of skillful are adept, expert, proficient, and skilled. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

In what contexts can adept take the place of skillful?

While in some cases nearly identical to skillful, adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When is it sensible to use expert instead of skillful?

Although the words expert and skillful have much in common, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

When would proficient be a good substitute for skillful?

The synonyms proficient and skillful are sometimes interchangeable, but proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

When might skilled be a better fit than skillful?

While the synonyms skilled and skillful are close in meaning, skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

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 skillful 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
  • 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
  • State government has made the education and training of skilled aerospace workers an important priority.
    Yogi Tharanibalan, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Colin is a masterful, soulful actor, and also an A+ human.
    Lauren LeFranc, IndieWire, 3 June 2025
  • 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
  • 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
  • Melanie also consulted Kristie Rhodes, manager of woven product development at Cotton Incorporated, for expert insight.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Preparatory Academy, an alternative high school in the Bronx for young adults who have lived in the United States for less than one year and are not yet proficient in English.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
  • In 2024, eighth graders dropped to 47% proficient or advanced in science down from 77% in 2023.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • Hobbies, sports and artistic expression are also quite in favor for you now, so do whatever possible to live in the moment and embrace your inner child.
    Kyle Thomas, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • This extraordinary relief depicts the king and several Assyrian deities, providing a glimpse into the religious and artistic culture of the Assyrian Empire.
    Real-Time news team, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Its ambitious and abstract first act is the section best left experienced without fully revealing what’s happening.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • The floral motifs created a garden of light against the shimmering teal backdrop for a dramatic, yet delicate look.
    Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Lorenza Rosé, $23 Year after year, the Lorenza team produces a rosé that's both light and delicate while still being chock-full of flavor and personality.
    Seth Eli Barlow, Arkansas Online, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skillful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skillful. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

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