masterful
Americanadjective
-
dominating; self-willed; imperious.
- Synonyms:
- peremptory
-
having or showing the qualities of a master; authoritative; powerful.
-
showing mastery or skill; masterly.
a masterful performance.
adjective
-
having or showing mastery
-
fond of playing the master; imperious
-
masterly
Usage
The use of masterful to mean masterly as in a masterful performance , although common, is considered incorrect by many people
Commonly Confused
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
Etymology
Origin of masterful
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; see origin at master, -ful
Explanation
Someone masterful is really good at a particular task or skill. A masterful pianist is accomplished and experienced — in other words, she plays extremely well. A masterful stone mason builds beautiful, sturdy walls, and a masterful math teacher is capable of teaching even students who think they hate math how to solve complex equations. An alternate way to use this word is to mean "like a master" or "controlling and powerful." In fact, this is the word's original meaning, from the Latin root word magister, "chief, head, or director."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
MacFarlane described him as a "rare actor who could take any bit of dialogue and elevate it, making a good writer sound great and a great writer sound masterful".
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Their 2019 debut, “Dogrel,” was met with critical acclaim, a masterful album with references to James Joyce and a teeming garage-style production.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
El-Sayed’s appearance on Monday with MacCallum was masterful policy communication.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
“Epstein was a masterful liar, and he clearly lied to me,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Meanwhile, over in Italy, one of Dowland’s masterful contemporaries - one of the most influential musicians of all time - was taking the concept of song in the most extraordinary new direction.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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