as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
ably maneuvered the boat up to the dock
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ably
Marianna Gailus and Sepideh Moafi (The Pitt) ably perform the others, but Jackman is stunning as a man failing to balance love and lust.
—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
The exhibition still ably singles out punk artists and groups with Jewish heritage like the Patti Smith Group, Blondie, Richard Hell, the Dictators and Suicide, as well as band managers, label executives, club owners and photographers who were part of the scene.
—
Siran Babayan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Driver ably brings the heartbreak in Paper Tiger, though Johansson’s no slouch in a less ornate but no less harrowing role that involves her character having a health scare and having to develop a very different perspective on the future.
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
17 May 2026
As Harry, Northeast Minneapolis product Nick Dillenburg ably captures a man who worries his best days are behind him, while Ryan Hallahan brings a wise and wary air to Draco.
—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ably
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
The exhibition still ably singles out punk artists and groups with Jewish heritage like the Patti Smith Group, Blondie, Richard Hell, the Dictators and Suicide, as well as band managers, label executives, club owners and photographers who were part of the scene.
—
Siran Babayan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Driver ably brings the heartbreak in Paper Tiger, though Johansson’s no slouch in a less ornate but no less harrowing role that involves her character having a health scare and having to develop a very different perspective on the future.
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
17 May 2026
As Harry, Northeast Minneapolis product Nick Dillenburg ably captures a man who worries his best days are behind him, while Ryan Hallahan brings a wise and wary air to Draco.
—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ably
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ably
Adverb
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While traditional tailoring and minimalist silhouettes dominated the red carpet, prospects masterfully personalized their looks.
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Son moved fast, especially up the left wing, and arced balls masterfully into the corners of the net.
Adverb
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Meanwhile, a flashback, set vaguely in the Before Times, presents a girl playing with the ragdoll Jessie, a cowgirl and aspirant sheriff, voiced enthusiastically and most capably by Joan Cusack.
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Backed by tens of thousands of raucous fans in the Los Angeles area, Bosnia capably hung with Switzerland into the second half — until the hydration break led to a moment of brilliance from Manzambi, a 20-year-old Geneva native who plays for German club Freiburg.
Adverb
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In one of prettiest team goals of this tournament, Ayase Ueda skillfully found Ritsu Doan, who threaded it to Maeda.
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The staff knows the menu and wine list back to front, and buzz around the dining room quickly and skillfully.
Adverb
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Below, browse through lots of loafers fit for easy summer dressing and well beyond.
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In a statement, an AT&T spokesperson said modern alternatives to copper hold up better during disasters and said landline service wouldn’t be discontinued until at least June 1, 2027.
Adverb
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The country's spring lines up neatly with the American fall, and both islands come alive with wildflowers and blossoms as temperatures climb through November, all before the summer crowds arrive.
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The hallmarks of cobalt poisoning fit the woman’s array of symptoms neatly.
Adverb
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Unless operated competently such missiles may be worse than useless.
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The real issue is whether AI is being implemented transparently, responsibly and accountably — and whether regulators themselves understand these systems well enough to govern them competently.
Adverb
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Van de Ven expertly went for the ball, and no foul was called even though Hakimi took a tumble.
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Mexico City, a global gastronomic mecca, expertly blends vibrant street food with pioneering fine dining.
Adverb
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But the real coup is Dippold's command of tone, deftly pivoting between nightmarish, surreal, wickedly funny, and soul-stirring modes, sometimes within single scenes.
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Even though Clinton’s remarks Saturday received muted response on cable news due to the heatwave and Trump’s excesses, online the former President deftly tapped into the shifts among Democrats for a more combative approach to curb MAGA.
Cite this Entry
“Ably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ably. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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