wordsmith
Americannoun
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an expert in the use of words.
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a person, as a journalist or novelist, whose vocation is writing.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of wordsmith
Explanation
A wordsmith is someone who expertly crafts beautiful sentences and uses language in ways that move and resonate with readers and listeners. A wordsmith excels in the art of playing with language to create beautifully written pieces. This term describes someone who can weave words into compelling stories, persuasive arguments, or powerful poetry, showcasing a deep understanding of how to use the perfect combination of words and phrases. Wordsmiths often have a profound impact on their readers, using their linguistic skills to evoke emotions, provoke thought, or simply entertain.
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.
See Examples For:
A talented wordsmith who writes his own books, and with a bestselling memoir penned before he considered running for office?
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
Liebling didn’t profess to be the best wordsmith who ever lived, but he did say that he could write faster than anyone who could write better.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
“If there’s a way around that, sure, I’d be at the table saying, ‘Lawyers, wordsmith something to get out of that,’ ” McNeill said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2025
Until recently considered a sign of carelessness or even stupidity, the error is now seen by some to be the indelible fingerprint of a human wordsmith.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2025
But Tariq liked to think himself a wordsmith, so it all got worse after they started hanging around.
From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon
He also praised "great wordsmiths" from Northern Ireland including the poet Seamus Heaney, novelist Anna Burns and musician Van Morrison.
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2025
He consults great wordsmiths such as Joan Didion, Joni Mitchell and Annie Dillard to convey the fear and awe that California weather inspires.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2024
This year, the wordsmiths also filtered out numerous five-letter words because Wordle and Quordle players clearly use the company’s site in search of them as they play the daily games, Sokolowski said.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 26, 2023
As wordsmiths, we wield the quill that can amplify these narratives and rouse readers to action.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2023
Accomplished wordsmiths identify a need while writing, or spot a problem in a sentence while revising, and when all goes well the suitable word or construction pops into mind.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
