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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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But despite those skillful trappings, the story soon feels ponderous.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 July 2025
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And there was also skillful attention to the right marketing and distribution details.—
Andrew Tobias,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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This is the masterful alchemy of the Lazy CF Ranch outdoor furniture line, where utility meets heirloom-quality fine art.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
2 July 2025
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The film shows a masterful command of its material, creating a fearless tone that is entirely its own.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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While advanced data analytics can flag some of these anomalies, a skilled negotiator with full market visibility can go deeper.—
Eric Steele,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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Despite being made by skilled artisans on the Sicilian coast and designed in Sydney, the U.S. market is already one of its main drivers, its founder and interior designer Isabella Wilde said.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Jesse Nelson, store manager at Family Tree Nursery in Shawnee, shared some expert advice for local gardeners on how to keep your annuals healthy when things get hot.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
9 July 2025
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However, such expert predictions should be taken with a grain of salt, as researchers have consistently been surprised by the rapid pace of AI capability advancement.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Noni Madueke is adept at doing the same, arriving on the right wing (with Nkunku himself switching from right to left) before finishing the game on the left during his cameo — as shown below.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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Sheeraz is also adept at timing; if his foe offers a slight opening, Sheeraz can exploit it and land a powerful strike.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adverb
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More people remained missing in those counties as well.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
6 July 2025
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The shooter was concealed by heavy brush and seemed to be well prepared.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
Adjective
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Jones previously held the position of men’s artistic director of Louis Vuitton, as well as Dior and Fendi.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
13 July 2025
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With music as a core artistic focus, Volga hosts a calendar of live performances both on the rooftop and in its underground music room.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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Statewide, 28 schools got A grades despite at least half of their students not being proficient in language arts, while 56 schools got the top grade even though half or more of their students scored poorly in math.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 July 2025
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Some analysts said a new category of jobs could require humans to evaluate the quality and authenticity of AI output, while others said AI may become proficient enough to negate many of those roles.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Masterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterly. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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