masterly 1 of 2

adjective

ˈma-stər-lē How to pronounce masterly (audio)
Definition of masterlynext
1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability a masterly performance of one of the most difficult ballets in the repertory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

masterly

2 of 2

adverb

as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner a masterly executed somersault

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of masterly
Adjective
Wolf Hall is the first — and my favorite — of the masterly trilogy which follows the rise of Thomas Crowell, advisor to Henry VIII. — Phillipa Gregory, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025 The masterly second installment of Wolf Hall retails permanent lessons in power. — Martha Bayles, National Review, 17 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Les Bleus continue their masterly run through the World Cup, winning by multiple goals for the fifth time in six matches. — Joe Murphy, NBC news, 9 July 2026 At age 31, chef de cuisine at the restaurant Alain Ducasse (at the Essex House hotel in New York City), one of the city's finest establishments, Didier is a masterly cook with a rigorous classical training. — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for masterly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterly
  1. virtuoso
  2. skillful
  3. masterfully
  4. masterful
  5. skilled
  6. skillfully
  7. expert
  8. adept
Adjective
  • Every day, the virtuoso violinist plays for an audience of travelers, with his stage in the pedestrian tunnel that links the CTA and parking garages to the terminals.
    — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Through 107 career games, Minten’s profile has leaned more toward dependable cello player than virtuoso first violinist.
    — Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of virtuoso
Adjective
  • But be that guy that can be skillful, a bruiser, fast and tough.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026
  • As Musashi scrambles through a school of Samurai, the game seamlessly bounces between skillful swordplay, rowdy improvisation, and Looney Tunes-style levity.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of skillful
Adverb
  • The narrative winds in and out of time, masterfully jumping between past and future with no consideration to chronology.
    — Sky Davis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Ahluwalia x Puma Blending the designer’s Indian-Nigerian culture with Puma’s legendary sportswear designs, this partnership masterfully resulted in a colorful, chic athleisure capsule.
    — Virginia Corneli, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of masterfully
Adjective
  • But the masterful mash-ups and West Coast flavor added some razzle-dazzle.
    — Adelle Platon, VIBE.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In a masterful unbroken shot, Klaus is on the phone from France with his sister, expressing his bottomless anguish.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of masterful
Adjective
  • BlackRock, the largest asset manager on earth, put up $100 million over five years to connect 50,000 workers with skilled trades training.
    — Alok Chanani, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Kacmarek, a skilled run blocker, permitted the first sack of his career.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of skilled
Adverb
  • Telhou uses primal shouts to keep the herd together, while Saâdia uses a slingshot contraption to skillfully throw stones at straying goats.
    — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026
  • When daily life can feel quite bruising and fractious, documentaries skillfully encourage us to let our guard down and connect with real-life stories and people… sometimes challenging, often invigorating, and always meaningful.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of skillfully
Adjective
  • There are saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms, and—most importantly—expert trainers and therapists who guide all guests through a journey of deep relaxation and rejuvenation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The sarcophagus has been on display at Westminster Abbey for more than 150 years, with occasional breaks for expert analysis, most recently in 2018, when the abbey was preparing to display it in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of expert
Adjective
  • All this is fun to read, since Philbrick is an adept and congenial storyteller.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • One of Indian democracy’s great achievements is that even its poorest citizens have proved adept at recognizing when the power of their vote is being wrested away, gauging the consequences and organizing to resist.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of adept

Browse Nearby Words

masterliness
masterly
mastermind
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Masterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterly. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All