1
as in handwriting
the form or style of a particular person's writing
doctors are famous for their illegible penmanship
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in calligraphy
writing done by hand
the students spend far more time honing their computer skills than they do improving their penmanship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penmanship
Cursive Academy, founded by husband and wife Terrell and Chelsea Whittington, earned its nonprofit status in November 2025 and partners with organizations, companies and individuals to resurrect the art of penmanship.
—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
The penmanship alone—careful and deliberate—signals the intentionality behind every detail.
—
Essence,
25 Jan. 2026
These handwritten letters, which lend a quaint quality to the storytelling, are a delightful throwback to an era when penmanship was celebrated.
—
Shruti Mutalik,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
The phonograph didn’t suffer from poor penmanship.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penmanship
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
The penmanship alone—careful and deliberate—signals the intentionality behind every detail.
—
Essence,
25 Jan. 2026
These handwritten letters, which lend a quaint quality to the storytelling, are a delightful throwback to an era when penmanship was celebrated.
—
Shruti Mutalik,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
The phonograph didn’t suffer from poor penmanship.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penmanship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penmanship
Noun
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There was little or no organization among them, and some were scrawled in barely decipherable handwriting.
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George Hodel’s handwriting also resembled that on notes sent by the killer to law enforcement.
Noun
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Kyoto calligraphy is often paired with tea ceremonies.
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As preschoolers dance, paint and play inside a Sunset Park daycare center, seniors sing traditional Chinese opera, exercise and practice calligraphy just one block away.
Cite this Entry
“Penmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penmanship. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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