skillful

adjective

skill·​ful ˈskil-fəl 

1

: possessed of or displaying skill : expert

a skillful chef

2

: accomplished with skill

a skillful treatment

skillfully

ˈskil-fə-lē 

adverb

skillfulness noun

Synonyms

• adroit
• artful
• bravura
• deft
• delicate
• dexterous
• dextrous
• expert
• masterful
• masterly
• practiced
• practised
• virtuoso
• workmanlike

Choose the Right Synonym for skillful

proficient, adept, skilled, skillful, expert mean having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession.

proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

Examples of skillful in a Sentence

He is skillful at diplomacy.

an artist skillful in the use of color

the skillful manner in which the doctor and nurses treated the patient

These issues require skillful handling.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are dozens of really skillful clergy and educators in this country who are doing this all the time, and it can be done. —Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024

As Bears coach, Ditka was confident enough in his position to accept the involvement of the irascible, disrespectful but skillful defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan as necessary to the team’s Super Bowl success. —Michael Peregrine, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

His skillful work and unique sound put him in the room with greats including Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, while his hitmaking prowess and partnership with Michael Jackson etched him forever in pop music's record books. —Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

The technical attacker is versatile, quick and skillful. —Andy Jones, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

skillful

adjective

skill·​ful ˈskil-fəl 

1

: having or showing skill

2

: accomplished with skill

a skillful defense

skillfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

skillfulness noun