1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
a masterly performance of one of the most difficult ballets in the repertory
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skillful
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
a masterly handling of a complex topic in philosophy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
a masterly executed somersault
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of masterly
Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2019
His accent was unaccented, and his biking around the city was masterly.
—Hannah Whitaker, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024
His handling of her final moments, ultimately placing her calmly sitting on the edge of the stage, is masterly.
—David Benedict, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The scene offered a preview of how perfectly Tennant’s Doctor would embody the duality of this hero through his three-plus seasons in the TARDIS — a masterly balance of stillness and chatter, heft and levity.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for masterly
Adjective
The authors of this concise and masterly introduction to the topic go some way toward filling that gap.
—Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2019
His accent was unaccented, and his biking around the city was masterly.
—Hannah Whitaker, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024
His handling of her final moments, ultimately placing her calmly sitting on the edge of the stage, is masterly.
—David Benedict, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The scene offered a preview of how perfectly Tennant’s Doctor would embody the duality of this hero through his three-plus seasons in the TARDIS — a masterly balance of stillness and chatter, heft and levity.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for masterly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterly
Adjective
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Several would require the skillful balancing of adverse political interests, including labor unions, real estate companies and pro-tenant groups.—
Mihir Zaveri,
New York Times,
1 June 2025
-
In short, this is about being emotionally skillful and multifaceted.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Colin is a masterful, soulful actor, and also an A+ human.—
Lauren LeFranc,
IndieWire,
3 June 2025
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Senior right-hander Wyatt Rudden was masterful, while the Raiders’ pitching staff — which had ace Hudson Alpert injured and used its two other top arms on Friday to advance — couldn’t hold down the Bruins’ potent lineup.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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State government has made the education and training of skilled aerospace workers an important priority.—
Yogi Tharanibalan,
Hartford Courant,
3 June 2025
-
The hope, Morrison said, was to encourage employers to bring in skilled workers via the permanent residency pathway, on the theory that immigrants with green cards would, by being on stronger footing, be less likely to undercut wages for Americans than guest workers did.—
Alec MacGillis,
ProPublica,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Consult a tax attorney or expert financial advisor for more information and tailored advice.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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Melanie also consulted Kristie Rhodes, manager of woven product development at Cotton Incorporated, for expert insight.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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His script may go over the top, and a generally adept cast (which also includes prominent parts for Sinbad, Rockmond Dunbar, Shalet Monique and others) copes variably with its excesses.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
6 June 2025
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Humanoid robots are physically fluently adept before AGI is attained.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Adverb
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But her decision to make the trek to Sunrise surely can’t sit well with Edmonton forward Jeff Skinner, who’s in the lineup Thursday for the first time this series.—
Adam Beasley,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
-
Shake well and pour into a glass rimmed with Tajín or chili salt.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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Managing it all behind the scenes is Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli, who served as the theater company’s director of new works for nearly a decade before taking on the artistic director role in 2023.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
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Hailing from Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel creator Sherman-Palladino, Étoile starred Luke Kirby (who played Lenny Bruce on Mrs. Maisel) as Jack McMillan, the artistic director of a prestigious New York ballet company.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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By lowering expectations on state assessments, the number of students listed as below, at or above proficient could look wildly different than the scores reported by National Assessment of Educational Progress.—
Bruce Rauner,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
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What once required a team of VFX artists or at least someone proficient in After Effects can now be done by anyone with a credit card and an Internet connection.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Masterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterly. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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