skillful

[ skil-fuhl ]

adjective

1. having or exercising skill:

   a skillful juggler.

   Synonyms: ingenious, clever, apt, adept, deft, adroit, ready

   Antonyms: clumsy, awkward, amateurish

2. showing or involving skill:

   a skillful display of fancy diving.

3. Obsolete. reasonable; rational.

Other Words From

• skillful·ly adverb
• skillful·ness noun
• quasi-skillful adjective
• quasi-skillful·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of skillful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; skill ¹, -ful

Synonym Study

Skillful, skilled, expert refer to readiness and adroitness in an occupation, craft, or art. Skillful suggests especially adroitness and dexterity: a skillful watchmaker. Skilled implies having had long experience and thus having acquired a high degree of proficiency: not an amateur but a skilled worker. Expert means having the highest degree of proficiency; it may mean much the same as skillful or skilled, or both: expert workmanship. dexterous.

Example Sentences

So is science just another upaya, or skillful means, to spread Buddhist teaching?

From The Daily Beast

But NPs are quite capable of delivering skillful primary care without my looking over their shoulders.

From The Daily Beast

Even the most quick-witted cops and the most skillful surgeons could not have saved him.

From The Daily Beast

If you look in the dictionary today, it says “naiad: any skillful female wimmer.”

From The Daily Beast

He was medevacced to Dallas and survived only to face the smart and skillful Fernandez in court.

From The Daily Beast

Coldriver did not know there was such a thing as inviting patronage by skillful display.

From Project Gutenberg

The Girondists knew to whom they were indebted for many of the most skillful parries and retaliatory blows.

From Project Gutenberg

He earned thirty-six francs a month by his position to support himself, but he was neat and skillful.

From Project Gutenberg

Skillful work had made it seem a vital thing to the people, and hundreds of letters and telegrams poured in to representatives.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a powerful summary, and a skillful plea for the adoption of a policy of conciliation with the colonies of America.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accomplished
• adept
• adroit
• competent
• experienced
• practical
• proficient
• seasoned
• skilled
• smart
• trained