masterful

[mas-ter-fuhl, mah-ster-]

adjective

1. dominating; self-willed; imperious.

   Synonyms: peremptory

2. having or showing the qualities of a master; authoritative; powerful.

3. showing mastery or skill; masterly.

   a masterful performance.

   Synonyms: matchless, skillful, skilled, expert, adept, complete, consummate

masterful

/ ˈmɑːstəfʊl /

adjective

1. having or showing mastery

2. fond of playing the master; imperious

3. masterly

Usage

The use of masterful to mean masterly as in a masterful performance , although common, is considered incorrect by many people

Confusables Note

At an earlier time, both masterful and masterly had two senses: “having a commanding or domineering nature or manner” and “possessing the skill of a master.” The earliest sense of masterly, “having a commanding nature,” has been obsolete since the 18th century. Masterful continues to be used in all varieties of speech and writing in both senses, despite the protests of some who prefer that masterful be restricted to the sense “dominating or imperious”: The envoy's masterful behavior irritated the citizens. Few painters have produced so many masterful (or masterly ) portraits.

Other Word Forms

• masterfulness noun
• masterfully adverb
• overmasterful adjective
• overmasterfully adverb
• overmasterfulness noun
• unmasterful adjective
• unmasterfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of masterful¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; master, -ful

Example Sentences

Though India and Australia pose the biggest tests, England's masterful duo have sent a clear message.

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Beth Mooney's masterful century rescued Australia from one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history and set up an ultimately resounding 107-run victory over Pakistan.

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The responses demonstrated the conflicted attitude many in Labour clearly felt towards a party grandee they saw as both a masterful political operator and a deeply flawed man.

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By all accounts, the team was masterful in its negotiations with Chelsea and it was rewarded with a record-breaking transfer fee.

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Thanks to NBC’s masterful coverage, England’s Premier League is as avidly followed in this country as many of our domestic leagues.

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Related Words

• adroit 
• deft 
• excellent 
• exquisite 
• first-rate 
• masterly 
• skillful