skill

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun skill contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of skill are artifice, art, craft, and cunning. While all these words mean "the faculty of executing well what one has devised," skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency.

the skill of a glassblower

When could art be used to replace skill?

While in some cases nearly identical to skill, art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power.

the art of choosing the right word

In what contexts can artifice take the place of skill?

While the synonyms artifice and skill are close in meaning, artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature.

believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice

When might craft be a better fit than skill?

The words craft and skill can be used in similar contexts, but craft may imply expertness in workmanship.

the craft of a master goldsmith

When is cunning a more appropriate choice than skill?

The synonyms cunning and skill are sometimes interchangeable, but cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing.

a mystery plotted with great cunning

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 skill An increasing number of cybersecurity job postings list artificial intelligence skills as a requirement. Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025 Given their role in fine motor skills and spatial processing, these areas were expected to play a key role in the coevolution of manual dexterity and brain size. Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025 The Bottom Line Gen Z isn’t rejecting career ambition—they’re redefining it around skill mastery, purpose and sustainable productivity rather than traditional hierarchies. Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025 Learn how to showcase your skills, build a stellar reputation, and create a digital presence that AI can't replicate. Mark Travers, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skill
Noun
  • Delivered to a high standard by Thales’s international team, in close collaboration with industry partners, this achievement showcases the quality, openness, and technical expertise that have defined Thales’s approach to the Type 31 delivery – earning praise from the Royal Navy.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
  • But Kennedy has already propagated an insidious revolution within the agencies under his control, using a playbook familiar to illiberal leaders—culling expertise, silencing critics, and weaponizing administrative procedure to grant a veneer of legitimacy to his actions.
    Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Luke Shaw’s technique and cunning at centre-back deserved to be better rewarded.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Others praised the pup's cunning.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Los Angeles experience consists mostly of such tangential connections and brief grazes of luxury.
    Joe Joyce, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The Abu Dhabi experience The new flight lands at Zayed International Airport, which offers a variety of unique experiences for customers.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Juan Zheng, Assistant Professor in Lehigh’s Teaching, Learning, and Technology program, argues that proficiency with chatbots isn’t enough.
    Samantha Walravens, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Wanda Woods enrolled because her father advised that typing proficiency would lead to jobs.
    Paul Spann, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The look quickly spread to Instagram and Pinterest boards, becoming a favorite among renters and homeowners who wanted to hang functional art pieces.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The gathering will bring together local groups, including CRS, Epic Partners and Coach Core, alongside stakeholders and funders, to highlight their work tackling youth violence and supporting young people through outreach, sports and creative arts.
    Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That level of artistry, creativity and focus on color sums up Hung Vanngo Beauty perfectly.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The VMAs have long recognized the work of standout talent whose artistry has made an influential cultural impact over the past year, shifting the global cultural narrative while shaping the landscape of the music industry.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Leeds are tipped to survive the drop after adding Premier League experience and European talent to their ranks.
    Jack Bantock, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Bhutia is part of India's digital growth story that is creating entrepreneurs, drawing investments, and attracting global tech giants, fueled in large part by a gigantic talent pool and tech userbase.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skill. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on skill

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